Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Connecticut teachers joining the march to political office

  • Politics
  • by Ana Radelat
  • October 5, 2018
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public Radio

Jahana Hayes declares victory in the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District.

Washington – This is not only the “Year of the Woman” in politics, it is also the “Year of the Teacher” with more educators running for public office across the nation and in Connecticut, teachers’ union officials say.

Teachers are leaving the classroom and coming out of retirement to join the political fray this year  driven by their opposition to federal education policy and by the actions of state legislatures.

Don Williams, the executive director of the Connecticut Education Association and former State Senate President Pro Tempore, said there is no one issue galvanizing Connecticut’s teachers to run for office, but a general sense that their participation in the political forum is needed.

“Teachers are on the front lines of democracy and civics,” he said. “They see needs in our public schools and are concerned about the future of their students.”

The CEA and fellow teacher’s union, the Connecticut affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, identified 15 educators or former educators running for the state assembly this year, which union officials say is more than ever before. Eleven are running as Democrats and four as Republicans.

Many more teachers are running for other local offices, they say, but don’t have a count.

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas :: CtMirror.org

Donald Williams Jr., executive director of the Connecticut Education Association.

“Voters in both parties are looking for fresh ideas and leaders,” Williams said.

One Connecticut teacher,  Jahana Hayes, is running for a congressional seat in a campaign that has capture national attention.

A former national Teacher of the Year, Hayes taught history at the John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury for decades and is now an administrator in the city’s school system.

Hayes said teacher strikes in Oklahoma and West Virginia and other recent activism by teachers inspired other fellow teachers to take action.

“We realized we’ve not been at the table or involved in decisions,” Hayes said.”Not only are teachers running for office and winning, but people are taking us seriously.” She said teachers have realized that “as a collective voice, we are a significant part of the population.”

Hayes said that when she decided to run for Congress, people predicted she would be a “one issue” candidate, focused on education. But she said teachers are in a unique position to determine societal needs and problems.

“We know when someone loses a job or a grandmother can’t get a visa or a student is leaving school because a family has lost its home,” she said. “You see the impact policies have on a community.”

If she wins her race, Hayes would  be the second former teacher in Connecticut’s congressional delegation. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, was once a history teacher in Hartford.

Nationally, at least 157 teachers have filed to run for state legislative seats, according to a recent Education Week analysis.

Seventy-nine percent are running as Democrats and 18 percent are running as Republicans. Fifty-four percent are women and 46 percent are men, Education Week said.

A cut in pay for some

Jason Adler: “It was worth the cut in pay.”

There’s a good reason many more teachers aren’t running for office in Connecticut and many other states, said Jason Adler, the school counselor at Waterford High School who is challenging state Rep. Jesse MacLachlan, R-Westbrook.

That’s because serving in the state assembly is a part-time job, with part-time pay. The $28,000 base salary paid annually to Connecticut’s representatives and senators ranks 20th highest in the nation.

Adler said his school’s administrators would allow him to work part-time as a school counselor so he could serve during the General Assembly’s session, which usually runs from February to May.

“My family agreed it was worth the cut in pay in my salary,” he said.

Adler, 44,  said he decided to run for office because he was concerned with the “huge problem” teachers and other state employees face because of the state’s underfunding of their pension plans.

The General Assembly tried to balance the budget by increasing the percentage of money public school teachers had to pay towards their retirement, which, Adler said, strains  teachers’ income as the cost of living continued to grow.

“That’s why we need more than just career politicians in Hartford,” Adler said. “Ideas from all sides are welcome but, if folks don’t fully understand the consequences of those ideas, they should not be implemented. We need an educator in Hartford to educate the politicians.”

Adler  said he’s also concerned about the “chipping away” of the Affordable Care Act. And of course, he said he cares about education in the state.

“The focus is on 21st century skills,” Adler said. “I worry about that.”

He believes infusing technology into education is a good thing, but must be coupled with “soft skills” that teach students resiliency and how to interact with other people.

“We can’t look at 21st century skills without knowing previous century skills,” he said.

Tim Walczak: “…giving a new face to the Republican Party.”

Timothy Walczak, 34, teaches eighth grade science at the Henry James Memorial School in Simsbury.

He is running as a Republican in an attempt to unseat Rep. John Hampton, D-Simsbury. Walczak said he entered the political world after witnessing “the climate becoming extremely hostile” in his classroom after the 2016 election of President Donald Trump. He said the students were bitterly split between Trump supporters and those who opposed the president.

“And they were only in eighth grade,” Walczak said. “I hope my running as a Republican is giving a new face to the Republican Party.”

He says he’s a “compassionate” fiscal conservative who is moderate on social issues, “because I’m a teacher.”

He also said he’s running for the General Assembly because “people who are making the decisions are disconnected to the people they impact.”

To Walczak, this is a year of the political outsider, when candidates like him have a chance at winning at the ballot box, especially teachers who are open to learning and new ideas.

“We don’t come in with a firm mindset,” he said “We have a growth mindset.”

Walczak encourages his students to follow their ambitions, whatever they may be.

“Every year I sign my students’ yearbooks with the statement ‘be the change you want to see in the world,’” he said.

Here are all the Connecticut teachers or former teachers currently listed on the November ballot:

Incumbents

Henry Genga (D) – former teacher running unopposed in 10th House District
Bobby Gibson (D) – teacher running unopposed for re-election in the 15th House District
Joshua Hall (D) – teacher running unopposed in 7th House Dist
John Larson (D) – former teacher running for re-election in 1st U.S. House District
Ed Vargas (D) – former teacher running unopposed in 6th House District

Challengers

Mary Daughtry Abrams (D) – Former teacher running against Len Suzio for the 13 Senatorial District
Jason Adler (D) – teacher running against Jesse MacLachlan for the 35th House District
Laura Bush (R) – teacher running against Mike Winkler for the 56th House District
Rich Deecken (R) – teacher running against Marilyn Moore for the 22nd Senatorial District
Steven Giacomi (R) – teacher running for the open seat in the 73rd House District
Aimee Berger-Girvalo (D) -special education teacher running in 111th House District
Jahana Hayes, (D) – teacher running for open seat in the 5th U.S. House District
David Lawson (D) – former teacher running for 20th Senate District
Joe Markley (R) — former English teacher running for lieutenant governor.
Allen Marko (D) – retired teacher running against Whit Betts for the 78th House District
Ron Napoli Jr (D) – teacher running for the open seat in the 73rd House District
Vickie Nardello (D) – former school nurse running for 16th Senate District
Timothy Walczak (R) – teacher running against John Hampton for the 16th House District

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Radelat Ana has written about politics and policy in Washington, D.C.. for Gannett, Thompson Reuters and UPI. She was a special correspondent for the Miami Herald, and a regular contributor to The New York TImes, Advertising Age and several other publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism, for CNN and several local NPR stations. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Ned Lamont’s year in the shadow of COVID
by Mark Pazniokas

Ned Lamont has been the face, voice, and interpreter of the COVID crisis, mourning deaths, explaining setbacks and cautiously celebrating.

1,500 Hartford school staff to be vaccinated this week at pop-up clinic
by Adria Watson

Vaccinations are taking place Thursday and Friday. A second round will be scheduled in coming days.

With billions in federal relief on the way to CT, legislators assert their role in deciding how to spend it
by Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

With an unusual bill, state legislators are reminding Gov. Ned Lamont they have significant role in disbursing federal coronavirus relief.

As the push to reopen schools intensifies, Miguel Cardona and first lady Jill Biden travel to Meriden to show how this town did it
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Adria Watson

Cardona said getting the nation's schools reopened is priority No. 1.

Rep. Patricia Billie Miller wins vacant Senate seat
by Mark Pazniokas

Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, D-Stamford, won a special election to the state Senate.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Opinion Students need more resources, fewer officers
by Tenille Bonilla

"School resource officer" is just a nice way to say cop. But what students really need is more resource and less officer.

Opinion The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

Opinion How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO