To the Editor:

I write this letter from my perspective as a resident volunteer who has been given the privilege of serving on the Board of Education (BOE) for eight years — not as a representative of the BOE.

Daniel Cruson and Jennifer Padilla have my full support in their candidacies for the Board of Education. Each comes to this endeavor knowing the commitment required and the willingness to volunteer their time and efforts. I have seen Jennifer Padilla’s dedication to the betterment of our schools in the many hours that she has volunteered as PTA President, as a member of the Parent-Educator Advisory Committee, and in other district committees. And having served with Daniel Cruson for the last six years on the Board of Education, I know the hours he commits not only to the BOE meetings, but also to the many subcommittees and Ad Hoc committees that he has chaired and served on over the years.

But being a productive and contributing Board of Education member is far more than just putting in hours and effort. To be truly effective, one must also be savvy about financing and contracts, understand curriculum and student needs, grasp management concepts, and know how government meetings work. Jenn and Dan come with these skills, through their work and volunteer experiences. One must also work well and empathize with people, and, most of all, one must have good moral, ethical, and legal sensibilities. I know that Dan and Jenn not only collaborate well with others, listening with an open mind, but also bring a proven dedication to making decisions for the greater good of Newtown. That is why I will be voting for Dan Cruson and Jennifer Padilla on November 2, and I urge you to do the same.

Michelle Embree Ku

Newtown