2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Christal Banville, Ellington Board Of Education

ELLINGTON, CT — Christal Banville is running for a school board seat in Ellington.

Candidate's Name:
Christal Banville

What office are you seeking?
Board of Education

What town do you live in?
Ellington

Campaign Website
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Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
15 year Public School Teacher, 5th Grade

Family:
My wonderful, supportive husband Matt was my high school sweetheart. We now have four loud, happy, busy children. Lily is 10, Frances (Frankie) is 9, Kent is 7, and Josephine (Joey) is 4. We also have two gray tabby cats named Esme and Beau who angellically tolerate our kids.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No

Why are you seeking this office?
Teaching is 100% my passion, both in the classroom, and out of it. I love working with children and families- helping them to leverage available resources to become their best selves. I love working in South Windsor, but picked Ellington as my home for a reason. Ellington is a very special community and I want to help improve district communication and clarity so that families feel confident that we are truly living up to the mission of transparency and trust. Right now, many families I speak to don’t feel that way. I bring the perspective of a mom raising kids in this technology-entrenched age, as well as with my 15 year career advocating for kids and families as a public school teacher. I am someone who can bring positivity and growth to Ellington Schools for all stakeholders.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
In speaking with constituents, it has been made clear to me that district communication is problematic for many families. There is a feeling of dishonesty that has left many families feeling left behind or frustrated. Accountability and integrity are two key characteristics that I plan to bring to the Board. We cannot gloss over mistakes and pretend they did not happen. We are all human, but when humans mess-up, they need to make it right. We need to acknowledge mistakes, repair damage, and make a plan for the future to avoid repeating them.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
As the only actively working elementary school teacher candidate, I bring real-world classroom teaching perspective to conceptual conversations. The needs of and challenges facing kids in 2025 is significantly different than it was even 10 years ago. Raising kids of my own, I also offer parent perspective in regards to how not only the system is working, but also in regards to what it’s like to raise kids in a world with Tik-Tok and AI. Finally, my education has well prepared me for this role, as my degrees are each rooted in slightly different areas of education.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Our last two budgets failed on the first vote, and many feel as though taxes are too high. Our district does well bringing in revenue, but I think there are more opportunities to do so. I'd like to work to increase the available spots for the district preschool program so that we can significantly reduce or even eliminate the waitlist. This would fill a need families have, while increasing our district revenue to keep taxes affordable.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
In my professional career I have served on several committees in addition to my regular classroom teaching duties. One of the most significant, and relevant, was the district re-opening committee which established reopening protocol after the initial COVID shutdown. I collaborated with building administrators, sought input from families and students, and even consulted contacts from surrounding districts in order to help develop a plan that would allow us to best meet the needs of all stakeholders while continuing authentic and rigorous educational practices. It was a stressful time in education, but our plan worked far better than we ever anticipated due to the hard work we did on the front-end, planning for every possible scenario. It is a great example of how I work hard to bring together everyone’s best interests into a system that works for all.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Not quite advice per-se, but my professor Dr. Shyamala Raman at the University of Saint Joseph used to say, “my work is my prayer,” a motto that to me not only exemplified self-actualization, but also ignited a yearning to do more for the greater good. It is how I feel every day when I step into the classroom.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am a solution oriented person who has dedicated my career to the betterment of kids and families. When children step into my classroom, I can see where a struggle might be occurring, but I am an expert at leveraging every available resource to work through that struggle and to progress towards a solution. This skillset would enable me to bring valuable insight, fresh ideas, and renewed passion to the Board of Education.