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Dear Editor:
As a retired educator, having worked 30 years in the West Hartford School District, I am dedicated to the district that I proudly served and for educating my children. Therefore, I am aware how important local elections are in molding, supporting, and expanding our educational pursuits to the betterment of our future citizens in our community. Every West Hartford resident has an opportunity to get involved in what each feel is best for the education of our youth. Voting is clearly a path toward this goal, and I feel a privilege to do so. With that always in mind, I take it very seriously and research each candidate.
When I read that Clare Taylor Neseralla was running for a position on the Board of Education, I couldn’t have been more elated. Clare always stood out for her excellence in teaching during my tenure in West Hartford and was highly regarded for her focus on enriching students in all aspects of educational life to reach them academically, emotionally, and socially. She clearly sought out the most creative venues during her 16 years, particularly integrating her expertise in technology and real-world studies, making learning come alive. I saw this firsthand as a district educator, and as her interim principal at Duffy School in 2015 following my retirement from Morley School.
Clare acts and gets involved. Her resume of awards during her 16 years in West Hartford School as a teacher leader is extensive and provides the proof of her dedication to serve the teaching community. She has undoubtedly showcased an outstanding resume in all aspects of education having been honored twice a West Hartford Teacher of the Year finalist, but has also sought to bring the local and global community together. Her acceptance into the NASA STEM Education professional development collaborative stretched her culturally-relevant pedagogy in the classroom. Presently, she is a CREC STEM coach at the CREC Discovery Academy in Wethersfield and has recently been trained as a facilitator in Conversations on Race. In her capacity as a STEM coach, she also serves as a member of the CREC Advisory Council in LGBTQ Affairs. Clare is clearly open to supporting all students.
She is an effective communicator and supports an approach and commitment that will reach our multicultural community. She cares deeply as an educator and is a dedicated West Hartford parent of a special education student. I am confident she will continue to be an active listener and a team player. Clare will persist in maximizing what’s best for West Hartford students and teachers, but will always keep in mind the role of the parent in education. Clare Taylor Neseralla will hear your voice and do what’s right for student growth making sure West Hartford Schools continue to strive for an educational system that meets the needs of all our students based on their individual needs.
I personally am reaching out to the citizens of West Hartford to take a close look at Clare Taylor Neseralla as I have, and believe that she stands for what our district needs in a Board of Education member. I proudly ask you to also vote for her in the coming election on November 2, 2021.
Respectfully,
Ellen Garber Stokoe, Ph.D.
West Hartford resident
