Coming from a family that instilled in her the value of public service, Board of Education candidate Lauren Connolly Nussbaum has long immersed herself in volunteering for numerous town and school programs that benefit the community. Now, she seeks to bring that dedication of civic involvement to serving New Canaan as a member of the Board of Education.
A New Canaan resident for nearly a decade, Connolly Nussbaum has coached numerous youth athletic programs on softball diamonds, on basketball courts and on soccer fields. She served as the South School PTC liaison to the Board of Education for two years, attending every meeting in person or virtually. She co-chaired the recent Celebrate Saxe Annual Campaign, worked on the campaign to renovate the Dome at New Canaan High School and is known as a heartfelt, always accessible supporter of parents navigating special needs programs. All that activity provides ample evidence of Lauren’s commitment to serving the best interest of New Canaan children and students, at all levels.
As a member of the Board of Education, her enthusiasm – and that ingrained commitment to public service – would guide her in serving as a sincere and effective advocate for students and parents, while also recognizing and appreciating teachers and the administration for achieving the successful academic outcomes that New Canaan is known for.
As a board member, Connolly Nussbaum wants to be known for her ability to collaborate, consider views, work with others and then vote for programs that are in the best interest of the students. As she put it recently: “How can we work together to do what’s best for our students? If there are differing viewpoints, it’s imperative to be able to listen, to understand where the other person’s coming from. Then, if we can find common ground, as a board, we can move forward together.” When disagreements have emerged on issues, Lauren has made it a point to initiate informal one-on-one meetings to gain a deeper understanding of the alternative views as a first step in finding that common ground.
As the parent of a daughter with special needs in school, her support and empathy for other parents with special needs is well-known throughout the town. She makes it her mission to reassure them that they are not alone and advises them on the extensive services New Canaan’s schools offer.
Lauren’s ability to listen, to consider, and be open to student and parental concerns would make her an excellent member of the New Canaan Board of Education. Lauren’s mission is to serve the best interest of the town, provide an enriching education to its student population, support parents and work with the faculty and administrators who are the reason New Canaan is in the top ranks of schools in the state, and the nation. She is an articulate advocate, a caring, empathetic individual whose objective is to do right by the school system so it can do right for the children who fill its classrooms.
