The Connecticut Education Association, along with the entire education community, is deeply saddened by the loss of Mark Waxenberg, a dedicated leader whose life’s work was committed to strengthening public education and elevating the teaching profession in Connecticut.
Mark’s career spanned nearly five decades, beginning in the classroom in East Hartford and culminating in his leadership of the state’s largest teachers’ union. He served as CEA president from 1988 to 1992 and later as executive director from 2012 to 2017, earning the respect of educators, policymakers, and leaders across the state.
A champion for public education, Mark combined his background as an educator with his extensive political knowledge, including his role as chief of policy for Governor Lowell Weicker. His leadership was instrumental in securing policies that enhanced public education in Connecticut. Among his many achievements, Mark led the Keep the Promise campaign, ensuring long-term security for teachers’ hard-earned pensions. He was a vocal advocate for improving school indoor air quality and increasing community engagement in schools.
Mark was a tireless advocate for students and teachers, fighting for the resources every child needs to succeed and pushing back against budget proposals that jeopardized the quality of our schools. His legacy is deeply embedded in CEA’s history, and he played a pivotal role in creating CEA’s Hartford office, where the lobby bears his name. Mark’s dedication to public education and the teaching profession will continue to inspire all of us.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mark’s wife of nearly 55 years, Mary; his son, Chris, and his wife, Nicole; his former daughter-in-law, Shannon; his grandchildren, Mia, Brinley, Avalene, and Jacob; and his entire family.
