2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Judy Knoob​, Tolland Board Of Education

TOLLAND, CT — Judy Knoob is running for a school board seat in Tolland.

Candidate's Name:
Judy Knoob

What office are you seeking?
BOE

What town do you live in?
Tollland

Campaign Website
https://tollandrepublicans.org

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Nurse

Family:
Husband and a daughter whom at 15 years old graduated from high school, at 16 received her Cna license and started attending college for her RN,BSN. I’m a very proud mom of one.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No

Why are you seeking this office?
“I’m running for the Board of Education because every child deserves to feel safe, free from bullying and violence, and focused on learning, not fear. What we’ve seen in the past few weeks should never happen again. No matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, we all share one responsibility—to stand together for the sake of our children and give them the safe, supportive education they deserve.”

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Our schools are safe, welcoming and focused on student success. I intend to work with parents, teachers administrators, and community leaders to implement stronger anti-bullying policies increase support services for students, and foster an environment where every child can learn without fear and thrive, academically, socially, and emotionally.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The major difference between myself and the other candidate is that my focus begins and ends with our children. I believe the single most important responsibility of a Board of Education member is to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn. While others may focus primarily on budgets or politics, my priority is creating safe, welcoming schools where bullying and violence have no place. I will listen to parents, work alongside teachers, and put children first in every decision. That is the commitment I bring to this role.”

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I am running for the Board of Education because every child deserves a safe, supportive, and high-quality education. No student should ever feel afraid to go to school. My top priority is creating an environment free from bullying and violence, where children can focus on learning—not fear.

Beyond safety, I will work to ensure:
• Academic Excellence: Every student has access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed in school and beyond.
• Mental Health & Well-Being: Expanding access to counseling, support staff, and training so students and teachers feel supported.
• Transparency & Engagement: Listening to parents, collaborating with teachers, and making decisions that reflect the needs of our community.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Using taxpayer dollars wisely and prioritizing investments that directly benefit students and classrooms.
• Equity & Inclusion: Ensuring that all students—regardless of background or ability—have an equal opportunity to thrive.

This campaign is not about politics; it’s about our children. Together, we can build schools that are safe, strong, and student-centered.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
For the past 16 years, I have successfully run a nurse assistant training program that I built from the ground up. I started as an instructor and, through hard work and dedication, became the director. I developed the curriculum, managed the day-to-day operations, and ensured hundreds of students received the education and support they needed to succeed. This experience shows my ability to lead, create programs that work, and manage responsibilities effectively. I know what it takes to listen, problem-solve, and deliver results—skills I will bring to the Board of Education.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to lead by example. That advice has guided me throughout my career—whether it was building the nurse assistant program from the ground up, supporting hundreds of students in achieving their goals, or showing up every day with dedication and integrity. I believe that same principle applies to serving on the Board of Education: if we want our children to grow into strong, respectful, and resilient adults, we must model those values in our leadership. That is exactly the example I intend to set for our schools and community.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I want voters to know that I bring over 30 years of experience as a nurse and 16 years of teaching and leading a successful nurse assistant program. When COVID-19 forced the school to close in March 2020, I immediately returned to the field full-time because I knew I was needed on the frontlines. I worked countless hours caring for patients during one of the most difficult times in healthcare.
In 2022, after the pandemic subsided, I proudly reopened my school to continue training the next generation of healthcare workers. My career has always been centered on service—putting the needs of others first with compassion, dedication, and commitment. These same values are what I will bring to serving our children and community on the Board of Education.
Outside of work, I enjoy drag racing my 1967 Camaro and caring for animals—two passions that reflect both my drive and my compassion for all living things.