We reached out to both the Haddam Republican Town Committee and the Haddam Democratic Town Committee and asked candidates to respond to a set of questions. Updates from all candidates are welcome, and are being published as Letters to the Editor. This is one such letter.
The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper.
Nineteen years ago my husband, Scott, and I moved to Haddam.  We both fell in love with the small town, especially the hiking trails and beautiful views of the river. I grew up in a suburb of Washington D.C., and graduated high school in a large class of 700 students. There were many great things about growing up in Virginia, but very few ever stayed there. Haddam, I have come to find, is a town where so many of my neighbors grew up and plan to grow old in. I love that we are raising our two children in a town where many of our district’s teachers went to the schools where they now teach.
After graduating from college, I moved to Connecticut to work at ESPN. At ESPN I worked behind the scenes as a cameraman and associate director, but I was proudest to have paved the way as the first woman to hold several technical positions there. It took a lot of hard work to build bridges and reshape a work culture into accepting new possibilities. This milestone set me up well as I left my role behind the camera and settled into a career of managing contracts, negotiations and budgets.
Ten years ago I left my career to stay home and raise our two children. As my oldest started Kindergarten at Burr I was able to dedicate my time to volunteering.  Scott and I believe strongly in volunteering for our town. I have spent the last nine years volunteering for our District 17 schools and Scott has been a soccer, basketball and little league coach each year. My service to the community includes six terms as PTO Vice President at Burr Elementary and Haddam-Killingworth Middle School, co-chairing the HKMS Craft Fair, and volunteering with our Haddam Junior Women’s Club. This fall I am enjoying my sixth year coaching youth soccer for HK.
But my greatest joy has been the time I’ve been able to spend in our schools. I have just begun my third school year as a substitute teacher for RSD #17. As both a volunteer and an employee I value the relationships I have built with the staff and families.  My children and I spent many hours this summer volunteering at Burr Elementary, the new Intermediate School, and HKMS. There I saw an energy and excitement that I have not seen before. The positive attitude radiating from everyone working in our schools is contagious. With new leaders and new goals in place, our district is experiencing a revival.
But there is still work to do to ensure we continue to move forward in a positive direction. My decision to run for Board of Education was not made lightly. This is a job that requires full-time dedication. However, it is important to me that there be a seat at the table for a parent with children in our district. A seat for someone who has spent a great deal of time inside our schools with our students, teachers and staff; and at BOE and Superintendent meetings garnering knowledge of our budgets and inner-workings. I am committed to the responsibility and am prepared to work hard, speak up, and represent all of our students and our community. Â
On the Board of Education, I would like to address the need for better communication. So much happens in our schools and consistent communication to both communities, not just to those with students in our schools, should become a priority. As we move forward it will be especially important to keep a keen eye on utilizing our district resources wisely and reducing redundancies.
Nineteen years later, I have learned so much about our town and our schools. While this school year started off a little differently, with change comes a tremendous opportunity for growth. Maintaining an excellent school system is a critical component to ensuring Haddam’s future success. Working side-by-side with the other Board of Education members, I will collaborate with our towns officials and engage in open-minded conversations with our communities to exceed the standard of excellence within RSD #17.  
Jen Favalora
Board of Education Candidate
Unaffiliated, but endorsed by the Haddam Republicans
Link to other candidates can be found HERE.
