Patch Candidate Profile: Lorraine Rossner For Shelton Board Of Education

SHELTON, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:

Lorraine B Rossner

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

What town do you live in?

Shelton

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Occupation:

Retired school system administrator.

Family:

My family has resided in Shelton for over forty years. Both of my children are graduates of Shelton High School and products of the Shelton Public School System. I have one son, Joshua and one daughter, Alysse. Both my kids have used their education to establish themselves in business - one as a plant/production manager with Coca-Cola and one in the entertainment industry with an independent film production company in NYC.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

I am seeking my third term sitting on the Shelton Board of Education which began in 2019.

Why are you seeking this office?

I served the Shelton Public School System as a classroom specialist, elementary assistant principal, department chair, professional development coordinator, assistant high school principal and assistant superintendent for Shelton for forty-two years. I believe that it is essential for Boards of Education to have education representatives sitting on the Board of Education in order to provide their unique perspective - based in real world education experience - to their colleagues.

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 the rising cost of living and their fear of future financial stability. However the single most important service a town or city provides its citizens - besides safety and security - is the education of their youth. It is the Board of Education's responsibility to manage their financial resources, support curriculum and instruction, and inform the citizenry of the importance of the education of their youth.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Since I am retired from a long forty-two career in the Shelton Public School System serving in a variety of positions, I believe I will be able to share that experience with my Board colleagues and provide them with insights to making decisions that will benefit our students, their families, teachers, and administrators.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I hope to continue to support and develop the "bipartisan" atmosphere of decision making that has been the cornerstone of how our Board has been working together over the past several years. Ultimately when the Board works together they make decisions that are based on what is best for our students and the school system.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Since I have had a long and productive educational career with the Shelton Public School System I will bring that experience to the job if reelected. My greatest honor as an educator was serving as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the last several years of my tenure and my biggest honor as a citizen was being elected to the Shelton High School Hall of Fame.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I have ever received was "keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut until you understand the dynamics and details of any situation - then and only then can you make important informed decisions."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I hope to be elected for a third term on the Shelton Board of Education so that I can share my expertise and experience with my colleagues in order to provide the best educational experience to our students and their families. As I have stated before, one of the most important responsibilities of any town or city, besides safety and security, is the education of our youth.