West Hartford Board of Education Chair Lorna Thomas-Farquharson and Board member Clare Taylor Neseralla have both announced that they will not be running again in November 2025.

Board of Education member Clare Taylor Neseralla speaks at Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

Two members of the West Hartford Board of Education have indicated that they do not plan to run for re-election in November 2025.

Board Chair Lorna Thomas-Farquharson, who has served two terms, and Board member Clare Taylor Neseralla, who has served since 2021, have indicated that they will not seek additional four-year terms this fall. Both are Democrats, and shared their intentions with the Democratic Town Committee last week, and shared their letters to the DTC with We-Ha.com on Monday.

Thomas-Farquharson, who was first elected to the Board of Education in 2017 and has been chair since November 2021, said the decision not to run again “has come with an open mind and deep thought. This especially holds true for as a child growing up in a home and community of change agents, servant leadership is who I am as a human being.”

Prior to becoming chair, Thomas-Farquharson had been secretary and vice chair of the West Hartford Board of Education, and served on the Policy Subcommittee and as an ex-officio member on West Hartford’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council and the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools.

Thomas-Farquharson has lived in town for more than 25 years, and she and her husband have raised two daughters who attend West Hartford Public Schools.

“Through all of these experiences, what I have seen first-hand is how fortunate West Hartford is to have dedicated individuals helping to educate our youth. Whether one serves in the role of parent, caregiver, teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, building staff, or volunteer, all play an instrumental role helping educate and empower our youth,” she wrote in her letter to the DTC. “As the African Proverb says ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and we are blessed to have the village we do in our town. What has stood out most over these years is the spectacular, resilient, shame-free-asking-for-help, and speaking-truth-to-power, nature of the youth. For close to eight years I have been reminded of why I chose to serve and who I serve. For these and so many other reasons, I will always be humbled and grateful to have been elected into office to serve.”

Neseralla was elected in 2021 and will complete her four-year term this year. She has served as a financial examiner and as Board secretary, and as a representative with West Hartford Community Interactive and the Substance Abuse Prevention Council.

“I’m starting a new chapter after 28 years of teaching and 20 years of media and marketing. I will be retiring in 2026 and will not be running for a second four year term with WHPS BOE,” Neseralla said in her letter to the DTC, adding that she will continue to stand up for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion because she believes “Diversity is our strength. Equity lets everyone succeed. Inclusion will never be wrong.”

Both Thomas-Farquharson and Neseralla indicated their plans to continue service and servant leadership in the community.

“I can promise you I am not finished advocating for special education, working on LGBTQ rights, and pushing for increasing PreK seats in West Hartford. I am committed to being a protector of democracy and have made it to one protest a month in 2025,” Neseralla said.

Thomas-Farquharson said that anyone interested in becoming a Democratic candidate for the Board of Education should contact the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee via [email protected].

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