The Connecticut State Board of Education currently has zero active teachers among its 11 members, but that will likely change soon.
The legislature’s Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee today considered Governor Lamont’s nomination of Stratford physics teacher Kristen Record to the State Board of Education and has voted to move her nomination to the full General Assembly.
“I believe that the best education policy is created when teachers have a seat at the decision-making table, bringing the voice of our expertise and our daily lived experience, as well as the voices of our students, into the discussion,” Record told legislators. “If approved, it would be an honor for me to serve on the State Board of Education as that voice.”
Record is a 2011 State Teacher of the Year, and among many other recognitions has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, and received the NEA Foundation’s California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence. She serves as vice president in her local union, on her district’s professional development and evaluation committee, is a certified TEAM mentor, and facilitates professional development around the topics of equity and access to STEM education and engaging K-12 students in STEM career explorations.
“Having an active classroom teacher on the body that supervises the educational interests of the state is so important,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “Kristen is a tireless, outstanding advocate for her students and the teaching profession. It’s long overdue for the State Board of Education to have a teacher among its ranks, and I can’t imagine a better voice for teachers than Kristen.”
Joining Record (center) to support her at her nomination hearing were CEA Director of Affiliate Services and Member Training Herman Whitter, Treasurer Stephanie Wanzer, President Kate Dias, Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, Rep. Chris Poulos, and 2019 State Teacher of the Year Sheena Graham.
Redding teacher State Rep. Chris Poulos, who has advocated for the appointment of an active, practicing classroom teacher to the State Board of Education since he himself was named Connecticut Teacher of the Year in 2007, came to the hearing to support Record.
“As an educator who not only plans, teaches, creates and grades assessments, but also understands firsthand the social, emotional, and academic needs of her students, Kristen is more than well positioned for this appointment,” he said. “Kristen is a highly professional and competent educator who embodies the process of teaching and learning. Her experiences in and outside of the classroom have prepared her to take on the challenging role of navigating the conversations between policy and practice, that will ultimately lead to the decisions that maximize outcomes for all kids. I am so proud that she has been nominated to the State Board of Education and know that she will represent our profession well.”
In answer to a question from legislators about the Board’s role in the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers Record said, “I think first and foremost that when we make decisions about what is going to be going on in schools or in classrooms, one of the questions we should be asking is, will this help us to retain excellent teachers? And if the answer is anything other than yes, then we perhaps need to revisit that decision.”
She stressed the need to elevate the teaching profession, reduce barriers for aspiring educators, and compensate teachers fairly—referring to a bill before the legislature that would raise teachers’ starting salary to $60,000. As a college graduate with a physics degree, Record said she could have picked many other careers that would have better compensated her. Today she says many of her own students who would make fantastic teachers choose better paying careers because of the need to support their families.
“Developing and retaining exceptional teachers is crucial to providing a high-quality education to all students,” Record said.
The full General Assembly will likely vote on Record’s nomination later this month.
