Dean Gousse Appointed To Fill Vacant Seat On Enfield School Board

ENFIELD, CT — A longtime community volunteer has been appointed to fill a vacant Republican seat on the Enfield Board of Education.

At Tuesday night's meeting, the town council voted 10-1 to approve Dean Gousse to the seat vacated by the resignation of Board of Education vice chairman Peter Jonaitis. Deputy Mayor Marie Pyznar cast the lone dissenting vote.

After careful consideration and interviews by the Enfield Republican candidate review committee, Gousse was selected to join the board, bringing with him a wealth of experience in community involvement and a strong commitment to Enfield’s educational future.

Gousse has dedicated more than a decade of leadership in Enfield Scouts, active participation as a parent in the Enfield Instrumental Music Association, and service on the Health Department board. He was elected a town constable in the 2023 municipal election. He has spent 28 years in various roles in the Big Y IT department, currently serving as a network engineer.

"It's a great honor to be selected to serve on Enfield’s Board of Education, and I am looking forward to working hard to support our schools," he said. "I appreciate the Enfield Republicans for putting their faith in me, and I will do my best to serve the district with integrity and dedication."

According to a news release from the Republican town committee, Gousse, a single parent of an adult son, understands the importance of quality education. He is focused on ensuring fiscal responsibility while investing in the future of Enfield students. He is particularly interested in expanding vocational education opportunities for students who are not on the college-bound track, and finding ways to engage parents more actively in their children's education and extracurricular activities.

Town committee chair Kelly Hemmeler expressed strong confidence in Gousse’s ability to bring meaningful contributions to the board, especially with budget season in full swing.

"I am confident Dean will hit the ground running and play a pivotal role in driving the critical decisions needed for our school district," Hemmeler said.