Educators across Connecticut demonstrated the power of collective action and the growing influence of teacher leadership in local government during the 2025 municipal elections last Tuesday. Fifty-seven CEA members won in elections in more than 40 different towns and districts across the state.
Through coordinated statewide and local efforts, CEA and its Government Relations Department helped spotlight and support educator candidates, strengthen local political engagement, and elevate public education as a central issue in communities across the state. More CEA members will now be serving on town councils and boards of selectmen, boards of education and finance, planning and zoning commissions, and more.
“I’m tremendously proud of our members who made time in their busy schedules to show yet another level of commitment to their communities by running for local office,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “It’s absolutely essential that those who understand schools best, our educators, have a strong voice in every level of government.”
“We had more CEA members run for office and win than ever before,” says CEA Political Engagement Coordinator Gus Melita (pictured above at left with successful Stratford Board of Education candidate Michael Fiorello). “It was inspiring to work closely once again with our local associations across the state to highlight and elevate educator candidates in their communities. More than 60 CEA members stepped forward to run for local office this year, showing what’s possible when educators and locals come together around a shared commitment to strengthening public education and local leadership.”
Melita credits CEA’s See Educators Run program with helping more teachers feel prepared to run for office. An initiative designed to spotlight, encourage, and elevate educators who run for public office See Educators Run offers information about running a successful campaign including preparing to be a candidate, fundraising, and communicating with voters. Thirty of the 57 members elected took part in that program this year.
Meet the new elected officials
Michael Fiorello retired last spring after decades in the classroom and dove right into local politics, running for the Stratford Board of Education. He was one of 12 CEA-Retired members running Tuesday, and all 12 won their elections.
“I’ve worked with Stratford families and educators for 24 years, and I marvel at the intellectual, artistic, vocational, and athletic talent in our town,” Fiorello says. “As we face questions of curriculum, facilities, personnel, and policies, I will strive to keep our young people and the cultivation of their talents at the forefront of every decision.”
Newly elected Enfield Board of Education member and South Windsor teacher Kelsey McGuire-Bruce with her family.Kelsey McGuire-Bruce is a lifelong Enfield resident who taught in Enfield until last year, when the decisions of local elected officials forced her into the difficult choice to work in another district. As soon as she made the decision to work for South Windsor schools, McGuire-Bruce knew she wanted to continue her commitment to improving schools in her hometown by running for board of education.
“Running my first campaign as a candidate was an incredible experience—full of hard work, learning, and community,” she says. “So much effort, laughter, and dedication went into this win, and I’m so proud of what my team accomplished together. I can’t wait to see what we’ll do for our schools and our town. I’m honored to serve this community and look forward to getting to work—listening, learning, and helping Enfield Public Schools thrive.”
Fiorello and McGuire-Bruce are both first-time candidates while Glastonbury educator Matthew Zabroski was reelected to his second term on the Cromwell board of education last Tuesday.
“In my next term I plan to work on finding ways for our district to engage with the community in a meaningful way,” the Glastonbury special education teacher says. “I’m looking into ideas like community service projects for our high school students (potentially in some of our senior living areas), finding ways for our teachers to share their expertise with the community (for example offering workshops for parents on how to help students further reading skills at home, how to help students organize positive work spaces at home, etc.) and being more active in helping our community become more familiar with the successes our schools and students experiences.”
He adds, “At the same time, our town has a number of large expenditures coming up over the next several years, not exclusive of the funding for our new Cromwell Middle School (opened August 2025), so making sure we are responsible with our budgeting will be high on the list. I’m excited to have been elected for a second term to work with my fellow Board of Education members to guide our schools and ensure that our students receive the highest level education!”
Sarah Taylor teaches in Naugatuck and lives in Meriden where she decided to run for City Council because she wanted to serve as a representative who listens, shows up, and collaborates to get things done.
“I said from the beginning that this race would be an uphill battle, and after walking up all of the hills in my district not just once, but twice, I am so excited to have the opportunity to serve on our City Council,” Taylor says. “As a mom, teacher, and taxpayer, I will show up and fight for the things that matter most to families: strong schools, good jobs, and fair taxes. Most importantly, I am looking forward to being engaged with our community—listening and working hard every single day. People have put their trust in me to move Meriden toward a brighter future, and I will do my best everyday to make that happen.”
Interested in running?
Melita says that the recent elections underscored what is possible when educators organize, communicate, and lead.
“CEA’s member-centered approach combining grassroots engagement, leadership development, and strategic support resulted in historic levels of educator representation across Connecticut,” he says. “I hope CEA can continue to expand our See Educators Run program to recruit and train even more members interested in running for local and state offices in upcoming elections to build on the incredible progress we’ve made.”
If you are interested in running for office or just want to learn more about the process, reach out to [email protected].
