Meriden Election 2025: Sheri Amechi Running For Board Of Education

MERIDEN, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in Meriden with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for the position of mayor, along with seats on the City Council and Board of Education.

Meriden Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Sheri Amechi is running for re-election to the Meriden Board of Education as a Democrat.

Occupation:
Public Health Service Manager

Family:
Husband: Chukwuma Amechi (51), Son: Sedrick Trotman (32), Son: Justice Amechi (22)

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Yes, currently serve on the Meriden Board of Education (incumbent)

Why are you seeking this office?
I’m running for reelection because I believe every child in Meriden deserves access to a high-quality education regardless of their learning style or ability. That belief has guided my work, and it continues to drive me today.

Over the past few years, we’ve made meaningful progress. Graduation rates are up, and that’s something we should all be proud of. But our responsibility doesn’t end there. Not every student will choose college, and that’s okay. What matters is that we provide real pathways to success for every young person in our schools.

That’s why we’ve expanded career-focused programs that prepare students for life after high school. Whether it’s training to become an EMT, earning a CDL to help meet our need for school bus drivers, or preparing for careers in manufacturing and nursing, These programs are giving students the skills they need to step into meaningful jobs right away.

In my next term, I am committed to further expanding these vocational and technical opportunities. We can continue to build a robust pipeline that helps students transition smoothly into careers they’re passionate about whether that’s in healthcare, skilled trades, public service, or beyond.

Education should open doors, not limit them. I’m committed to continuing this work, ensuring that every student in Meriden can thrive whether in college, a trade, or the workforce.

Currently we offer college level courses for students planning to attend two or four year colleges. These classes allow students to earn college credits before they graduate high school, giving them a head start and helping reduce the cost of college. It’s a practical way to save money and time while preparing for higher education. I would like to see us add more college level courses in the coming years.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
I believe that school funding is the most pressing issue facing my constituents in Meriden.
We are currently the lowest funded school district in Connecticut, which puts pressure on our classrooms, staff, and students. I will work directly with the City Council to advocate for increased education funding. I believe we should continue to look for grants and philanthropic contributions as well.

To ensure transparency and community involvement, I support holding open budget forums with parents, teachers, and residents. These conversations are essential to show how we’re working to maintain quality education and keep class sizes down, even with limited resources.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have raised two sons who attended part of their Elementary school and Middle school years here in Meriden, CT. I fully understand firsthand the challenges and milestones felt by parents, students and educators.

As an incumbent Board of Education member, I bring years of practical experience navigating budgets, creating and updating policies and I understand district priorities.

My reach is beyond the Board of Education, I'm currently the Vice President of Meriden Children's First Initiative, a non profit serving our city's most vulnerable you through programming and advocacy work to strengthen home and community ties. Meriden Children's First recently awarded 25 graduates for the class of 2025 with $1000 scholarships.

I've also completed parenting leadership programs such as Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), Parents Supporting Educational Excellence (Parent SEE) and UCONN People Empowering People (PEP) and am now a trained UCONN PEP facilitator. These programs have armed me with tools to elevate parent voices on and off the Board of Education.

In essence, I've walked the halls as a parent, worked in the Boardroom as an official and engaged with families in the community.

As an incumbent I don't need time to learn the system as I'm already part of it and can continue to help expand vocational programs, improve graduation rates and ensure students have college and career pathways.

In short, I'm not new to this work. My commitment to providing an inclusive educational experience as well as being rooted in the community sets me apart. I can ensure you I will keep delivering results on the Meriden Board of Education should I be reelected.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I fully support any and all efforts to hire and retain skilled Special Education staff, including educators, behavior specialist and paraprofessionals.

The more Special Education services we can keep within Meriden helps build community and ensures that all Meriden students are part of a more inclusive education system. Also keeping Special Education students in district saves money when compared to outplacing.

Although Wilcox Technical High School isn’t part of the Meriden Public Schools system, our Board of Education has worked closely with them to give Meriden students access to afterschool trade programs. These programs offer valuable hands-on experience and open doors to real career opportunities.

That said, I believe we can do more to strengthen this partnership. One simple but meaningful step would be to periodically invite student representatives from Wilcox to present at our Board of Education meetings. Their voices matter, and hearing directly from them about what’s happening at their school would help us better understand how Wilcox is serving our students and contributing to our community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As a current member of the Meriden Board of Education, I've worked hard to help deliver real results for our students and families. We have seen an increase in graduation rates proving the more students are staying on track and completing their education.

Several of our Elementary schools have earned national recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools.

As part of the current Meriden Board of Education I've helped expand college level courses and career training programs, giving students the chance to earn credits and learn trades before graduation. Our current partnerships with outside organizations has opened doors to hands on learning in fields like manufacturing, nursing, CDL transportation, food service and many more.

These accomplishments reflect my commitment to making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Throughout my life's journey as a child, a parent, a community leader and now a member of the Meriden Board of Education, the best advice I've ever received were given to me as a child from my Nana, they were four simple words. "Be humble and kind."

These words have shaped how I lead, how I listen and how I serve.

This advice has guided me through tough decisions, assisted me in building bridges and reminded me that leadership is not about a title, it's all about service.

As I seek reelection, these words are with me every step of the way. I am committed to leading with humility, kindness and a deep belief in the highest potential of every child, regardless of their learning ability in the Meriden Public Schools.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I approach my work on the Meriden Board of Education by listening, learning and always putting students first. I'm running for reelection because I believe in the Meriden Public Schools, the kids and I want to keep building a school system where every child can thrive.

Academic success means little without safety. I believe that every child deserves to feel secure in their learning environment. This is why I've supported all efforts to improve the security in all our schools.