Mayor Luke Bronin has named two Hartford parents to serve on the Hartford Board of Education.  These two nominations will be vetted by City Council tonight.  We asked them about their priorities and motivations – and they’re impressive.

 

Tiffany Glanville is a Hartford resident; two of her three children attend West Middle School.  With a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School, she brings an outsider perspective to the Board, having practiced law in Chicago and Philadelphia and interned at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York City.  As a master gardener specializing in fruit trees, she currently leads a project to bring fresh produce to local hunger relief efforts and is president of the West Middle School PTO.  Here are her replies to our three questions:

 

Why do you want this job?!

I want to have a voice at the table during this time of great challenge and opportunity for our school system and city.

 

What’s an area of improvement at HPS you want to focus your energy on?

Everyone has been trying to figure out family engagement, including me in work I have been involved with on the individual school level, and I want to see HPS be a leader in getting it right.  Nearly every aspect of our school system has some intersection with family engagement, and I hope to work with the school district and with the community to help cultivate mutual trust.  I am also particularly interested in elevating the discussion around schools, community development and housing.  Thriving neighborhoods make for strong schools and thriving schools are a backbone to stronger communities.  I want to help bring together experts, leaders and resources in furtherance of this vision.

 

As you see it, what do you uniquely bring to this critically important work?

In addition to being a parent at a neighborhood school, my perspective on our school system has been greatly influenced by being a resident of Hartford and the mother of children of color.  These are vantage points from which I have experienced both hope and frustration and which, in combination with my legal background, have inspired me as an advocate for equity.  I look forward to bringing a unique viewpoint to the current board and to expanding my knowledge and lens for the benefit of all children in the city and our school system.  I have a great deal to learn, and am excited to dive in.

 

Karen Taylor is a Hartford resident who graduated from Weaver High School and has twins, a daughter and son, attending the University of Hartford Magnet School.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, in educational studies, with honors, and is a member of both the Sheff Movement Coalition and Greater Hartford NAACP.  Here are her replies to our three questions:

 

Why do you want this job?!

I am excited by the prospect of serving Hartford students and families, because I am a long time resident of Hartford’s north end and a graduate of a Hartford Public High School (Weaver). I gained much from experience in Hartford Schools. This is an important time in our city, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the initiative to strengthen our schools and communities.

 

What’s an area of improvement at HPS you want to focus your energy on?

An area of growth that I feel passionate about is collaboration between schools, families, and organizations throughout the city and within the region. We have many challenges, but we also have many initiatives, experts, and organizations throughout the city who are doing the good work to help meet those challenges. Access to quality education is not just an issue for schools. It is an issue to be addressed in conjunction with families, communities, businesses, higher education, housing, government policies, and so on. I would like to bring stakeholders together, get them in conversation, get them sharing, and get them collaborating on behalf of Hartford kids.

 

As you see it, what do you uniquely bring to this critically important work?

I bring a variety of unique perspectives to the Board and to this work. I am a north end resident and a proud graduate of Weaver High School. I am a doting parent of elementary-school-aged twins. I have been involved in the Sheff Movement Coalition, and my children attend a CREC magnet school. I recently earned a B.A. at Trinity in Educational Studies with honors. My life intersects with Hartford schools or the study of Hartford schooling at many points. My wide range of experiences allows me to truly hear people and connect with them in real ways about what motivates and what frustrates them. I plan to use my unique ability to hear and connect to bring the voices of parents and community members to the discussion table.

 

Mayor Bronin also has re-appointed Board Chair Richard Wareing and Vice Chair José Colón-Rivas – and has not yet named the fifth mayoral appointment to complete the nine-member complement.  The four elected members are Michael Brescia, Robert Cotto, Jr., Craig Stallings, and Dr. Beth Taylor.  Here is the Courant article on the four Board appointments as announced February 3rd.