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To the Editor:

When Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” was announced as The Great American Read “Best Loved Book,” Senator Beth Bye popped into my head.

For me, the reason is as obvious as protagonist Atticus Finch is memorable. Both Senator Bye and attorney Finch continually seek justice; pointedly, justice for all.  

Senator Bye is a tireless and constant righter-of-wrongs in a world where values, integrity, doing the right thing for the right reasons, and the possession of a true moral compass, have morphed into somewhat dystopian levels of disturbing proportions.

It was my honor to have worked with Senator Bye when she was elected to, and eventually chaired, the West Hartford Public Schools Board of Education. Always a champion for children and families, she was the vanguard for the birth-to-3 movement, ultimately leading the district’s Great by 8 program and the state’s pre-school initiatives.

This is merely one of her myriad achievements that have come to fruition during the highly accomplished tenure(s) she held in office. She has NEVER settled for the status quo; rather, seeking always to find the balance between fiscal responsibility and just outcomes. In every arena that requires a focused attention on providing results that are in the best interest of ALL Connecticut residents, Beth can be found at the forefront leading the charge.  

West Hartford is so fortunate to have her in its corner, as is the entire state.  

Sincerely,

Dr. Nancy DePalma
Retired West Hartford Public Schools Administrator