June 13 , 2006
John O'Leary, BOE Candidate
By Kathleen Amoia

John O'Leary knows that he is making a major commitment by agreeing to be the Democratic candidate for District 17's recently vacated Board of Education position. Having attended many BOE meetings over the past two years, he has seen first hand the responsibilities of being on the Board, the hierarchy of issues with which it deals, and the energetic leadership of Superintendent Gary Mala.

A graduate of Fairfield University, with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Counseling, O'Leary has been working at Yale University School of Medicine since1990. A seven year resident of Killingworth and the parent of KES fifth and second graders, he has a vested interest in quality education. "I am very motivated to make certain our tax dollars are invested wisely and lead to innovative educational approaches that are implemented by the highest quality teachers," O'Leary explained.

O'Leary's volunteer activities indicate his concern for the social and emotional development of young people that he acquired during his years as a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor. He has worked with HK Youth and Family Services in several capacities from 1998 through 2004 including being a chaperone, participating on the Prevention Council, and developing the Youth Center's original website. He served as a Project Graduation chaperone and a MADD Teen Leadership Camp chaperone as well.

In 2005, John assisted the BOE and Superintendent Mala in researching discipline policies as written in other Connecticut and out-of-state school districts. This year, he collaborated with the superintendent in developing a Parent Exit Survey for families that select a high school other than HKHS. Together, they conducted telephone interviews of parents and John is now analyzing the data for an upcoming report.

From his volunteer activities one would think he were already on the BOE. His carefully thought out educational philosophy gives that impression as well. If elected, O'Leary states "I will seek to promote collaborative and innovative approaches that allow educators to maximize the potential of each student…I believe that every child is uniquely talented and deserves to have caring and competent teachers and guidance counselors..." His philosophy includes being sure that the students "in the middle" not be overlooked when attention and resources are allocated.

O'Leary is an advocate of the Advisor/Advisee system as an approach to addressing each student's needs. Under this system, every educator in a school works with a small group of students as a mentor or coach. "Usually each educator is assigned a group of students with whom they meet regularly throughout the students' years at the school." O'Leary explains. He believes such an approach of particular value in both the new intermediate school and the high school.

The KDTC is honored to support John O'Leary's candidacy for District 17's Board of Education.  (The vote to fill the BOE vacancy will take place at a Special Town Meeting to be held Monday, June 19 at 8:00 pm at KES.)

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