To the Editor:

As a candidate for the Newtown Board of Education, I’d like to introduce myself.

I am a 17-year resident of Newtown who is a passionate advocate for public education and am a longtime school/town volunteer. My husband and I both graduated from public schools in upstate New York, and our daughters are both graduates of Newtown High School. I received an engineering degree from MIT and worked for 30 years in high tech research and development as an information systems engineer. As a trained researcher, I want to examine how our school tax dollars are spent and verify that the money is well spent, so that Newtown students are getting the best possible education that we, as a community, can provide.

In addition, I believe it is crucial that our students and teachers be as free as possible from hurdles that impede classroom instruction. Schools should be places where teachers welcome each day with enthusiasm and students are inspired to learn, graduating with the skills and tools needed to launch rewarding adult lives. I also want to work on behalf of Newtown students to ensure that our schools instill a life-long desire to learn, so our students can continue to build upon those initial skills and tools.

Public input is essential to this process, and I would actively solicit ideas and engage with parents, community members, and outside experts. I also strongly believe that information should be available to all Newtown residents so that they are well-informed and have a more effective voice. This has been a focus of mine for every public role I’ve held.

I welcome your support and participation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at debz.newtown.ct@gmail.com.

Deborra Zukowski

4 Cornfield Ridge Road, Newtown September 25, 2019