Meet the Republican: Patricia Queen

"Meet the Candidates" is a feature on Southington Patch designed to help you get to know your local candidates before you take to the polls this November. Each profile was submitted directly by the candidate. 

Take a moment to review each profile so you can be informed and prepared when you go to the polls on Nov. 5, 2013.

This week, we are looking at the Southington Board of Education candidates.

Name: Patricia Queen
Age: 48
Party, Position Seeking: Republican, Board of Education member
Family information: I am married to Bill Queen, SHS Class of 1982. We have two boys, Billy, class of 2012, and Alex, a senior at Southington High School. After a decade living in the Midwest, we returned to Connecticut and have lived in Southington for ten years.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Wesleyan University; completion Alternate Route to Certification; postgraduate coursework in elementary education, St. Joseph’s College.
Occupation: Defined traditionally, I am a writer and an editor; however, the vast majority of my time has been spent raising my children and using my education and professional teaching experience to contribute to the school systems where I have lived.
Political Experience: I have served on the Board of Education since November 2010; member of Curriculum and Instruction Committee, Personnel and Policy Committee, Veterans Partnership Committee, 2020 Vision Committee, Board of Education negotiating Team for contracts with all bargaining groups; Liaison to Connecticut Association of Boards of Education(CABE).
Other Experience: PTO Member, Volunteer, Committee Chair and/or Officer: Churchill Elementary in Glen Ellyn, IL, Hatton Elementary, DePaolo Middle School, and Southington High School. Volunteer: Southington Youth Basketball Association, Southington North Baseball, Apple Harvest Festival, Friends of Soccer, Knight Kourt, Diamond Club, and Wesleyan Alumni Association. Substitute Teacher, Instructor, Tutor and/or Coach: Plainville Public Schools, Southington Public Schools, Wallingford Gifted and Talented Program.

Why did you run for office?
I want to continue to advocate for excellence in Southington Public Schools. The 21st century has ushered in a rapidly changing world, and I want to support teaching and learning to prepare our students for the future.

I believe public education is the very essence of the concept, equal opportunity for all.  My husband and I were the first in our respective families to go to college, and we earned that opportunity through public education.  We and our children are now living the American Dream, and I want to contribute to making that possible for as many children in Southington as I possibly can.

I am deeply committed and invested in the work of the Board of Education in Southington and would be honored to have the opportunity to continue my service to the community.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?
I will continue to build on a rich tradition of education in Southington where the philosophy of continuous improvement guides us in our pursuit of educational excellence while maintaining safety for our students and fiscal responsibility for our community.

I begin with the basic belief that the fundamental goal of education is to create life-long learners. This means instilling in children a love of learning and the confidence in their belief that they know how to learn. This is especially important in today’s world which is fast paced and constantly changing. We need to prepare our students for the 21st century. The Board of Education has a plan, Vision 2020, to achieve this, and I will advocate for this plan and make decisions with it in mind.

Today’s students need to be adaptable, flexible and have a variety of essential skills. It still begins with reading, writing, arithmetic, and the ability to get along with others, basic citizenship. By graduation, the skill set must expand beyond reading to the ability to discern good information from bad, beyond writing to communication as a whole, and beyond arithmetic to a comfort with analytics. In addition to mastery of content, a 21st century education needs to include: technology literacy; global awareness and sensitivity to other cultures; critical and creative thinking applied to  problem solving; the ability to work collaboratively; the ability to create; and the ability to engage the community and contribute as a citizen.

As what we expect from an education for our students changes, so does what we expect from our teachers change. To maximize the ability of our teachers to provide a 21st century education and to implement the Common Core State Standards, we must support teachers with class size, professional development and tools that set them up for success. One of the most important tools in today’s world is technology, and I strongly support the long-term technology plan to equitably bring our schools up to speed.

One of the most valuable resources we all have is time. The Vision 2020 plan looks at time in a very different way. “Learning is constant; time is the variable.” I want to explore this concept. Examples of this include personalized learning and expanding student learning beyond the traditional school day with technology and community partnerships that provide real world experiences.

Lastly, I want to advocate for the strong brand that is Southington Public Schools to the larger community beyond Southington. Brand recognition will give our students a competitive edge as they pursue opportunities after graduation and ultimately contribute to society as adults.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Southington today?
Without a doubt, the biggest issue facing Southington today is the same issue that is facing our country as a whole, a slow recovery of the economy. This poses a challenge to our schools because public education is funded by taxpayers who continue to feel the adverse effects of a sluggish economy.

The Board of Education has been aware of this and has approved minimal budget increases in recent years. Growth in educational programs has occurred through prioritizing our expenditures, cost avoidance measures, pursuit of grant funding, a judicious eye toward value and cost, and community partnerships which have provided revenue, goods and educational experiences for students both inside and outside of the traditional school setting.

Sustained and expanded economic development in Southington is the goal, and an excellent Southington public school system can help to achieve this goal. Excellent public schools in a community draw in young families which has a positive influence on home values. These same families serve as consumers in the local economy. This dynamic positions Southington to be an attractive investment for both individuals and businesses whose contributions to the grand list reduce the tax burden on all of us.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?
I am a life-long learner and a diligent worker. I tend to look at the world philosophically and see the big picture while relying on data analysis in decision making. I am an optimist and begin with the premise, “How can we make this better?” My experiences living in other communities have given me other perspectives to bring to the table. I see the multiple sides to an issue and believe that debate leads to a better product or solution. In the end, the answer is to collaborate and compromise, so that the work gets done.

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