2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Elizabeth Crooks, Middletown Board Of Education

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Elizabeth Crooks is running for a Board of Education seat in Middletown.

Candidate's Name:
Elizabeth (Liz) Crooks

What office are you seeking?
Board of Education

What town do you live in?
Middletown

Campaign Website
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Party Affiliation:
Unaffiliated

Occupation:
Educator (semi-retired) 35 years experience

Family:
I have three grown children and two grandchildren ages 17 and 14.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No one in my family works in Middletown government.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I am currently on the Middletown board of education. I was elected to fill a vacated spot during the 2023 election and have served two years.

Why are you seeking this office?
Originally I ran for Board of Education because I thought I could give back and help improve education in Middletown because of my experience as a teacher and administrator. I am running again now because I think we have accomplished much as a BOE; however, I think there is so much more to be done. I am passionate about insuring students can achieve to their highest potential.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is equity and the achievement gap, With that said, I do not believe in lowering expectations. I intend to continue pushing for high standards and helping students achieve those high standards by taking each student where that student is and helping the student move to the next level and beyond. We absolutely must support each student in achieving their potential so they become productive citizens beyond high school. While academics are a huge part of this, it also includes behaviors as well.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I think most of us want the same for our students; however, I think the difference is my experience. I have a strong background in curriculum. I have a strong outside network of experts I can rely on for information I may not know. Finally I have a strong background in data analysis which allows me to sift through data and identify when/if it is biased and not giving the true picture of where our students perform. Finally, although it isn't easy, I am willing to ask the difficult questions to insure our students are getting the best they can get.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I think clear communication with the community is essential. With the BOE, I believe this is two-fold. First and foremost we continue to stress clear open communication between central office, administration, and parents. This has been stressed throughout my two years. Second, I would like to do more to elicit feedback from the community on what they believe needs to be done to improve education in Middletown. - what they like, what they believe needs to change, and what ideas they have about improving education. I believe it is important to consider different perspectives.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As I stated before, my expertise as a curriculum leader and my experience with data analysis have allowed me to make significant contributions in certain areas of the BOE. In the past two years I have learned a lot more about budget and policy; however, I am still learning.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
It wasn't so much advice as actions. I learned what I wanted to be from my son's third grade teacher. She had a student of the week (or every two weeks) that she would announce and take to Friendly's for an ice-cream. By the end of the year every student was chosen and honored. As I began to teach, this helped me stress to my students that each one of them had some gift to offer - one may be the best math student, another may be the fastest runner, and another may be the kindest person. Like Ms. White's students, my students knew I valued each and every one of them.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am passionate about students and about education. I also believe that we must provide an education that attracts and keeps parents in Middletown.