About the Candidate: Paula O'Brien

Name: Paula O’Brien

Party: Republican

Position Seeking: Board of Education

Family information: I have lived in Farmington for the past 11 years with my husband, Sean, and our two sons, Liam and Aidan.  Liam is an eighth grader at IAR and Aidan is a fifth grader at West Woods. We, like many other families in town, moved to Farmington for a better quality of life and because of the superb school system. 

Occupation, if applicable: Upon graduating from law school, I worked as an attorney for Steel, Hector and Davis, a large law firm in Miami, Florida.  When my husband and I relocated to Washington, DC, I worked as a Government Account Manager for Westlaw, which provides technical research support for those in the legal field.  I provided support to the staff members of the federal courts and the US Congress.   Before attending law school, I worked at Kraft Foods and Georgia Pacific Corporation as part of their sales forces.

When my older son was born, I decided to stay home full-time with my children and I have worked to maintain a sense of community and purpose through various volunteer opportunities. On a local level, I have been an active member of various school PTOs, serving as the chairperson of the cultural enrichment committee at West District and as a member of the same committee at West Woods. In my role on these committees, I have been instrumental in getting grant money from the state and other local organizations to support many of the cultural enrichment programs performed at the two schools over the last few years. 

I also serve on the Board of Directors of the Farmington Public School Foundation, whose mission is “to provide financial support for educational projects, programs and initiatives that foster innovation and excellence in the Farmington Public Schools.” I have also served on the Board of Directors at both Village Nursery School, where I was President, Vice President and Fundraising Coordinator, and Winding Trails, where I was the Chairperson of the Development Committee.  Lastly, I have been a volunteer for Farmington soccer for the past eight years, serving as either a coach or manager for both of my sons’ teams. 

Political Experience: I was appointed to the Board of Education by the Republican Town Committee to fill a vacancy in September 2010.  Since that time, I have served on the Board’s curriculum committee and as a liaison to both the FHS school to career committee and the Farmington Public School Foundation, of which I am a member of the Board of Directors.

Why are you running for office?

I feel it is important to give back to the community and to support those areas for which you are passionate, and for me, that is education.  I feel strongly that our children deserve the best public education available and it is our responsibility to provide a rigorous curriculum that challenges all students to achieve academic excellence and individual growth. 

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?

We must preserve the quality of education that Farmington has always provided its children. The Board of Education must work collectively to present a responsible, prudent budget that will maintain the standard of excellence for which our town has always been respected.  That does not mean, however, that we can rest on our laurels and not look to progress.  To allow our school system to maintain its level of excellence, we must meet the new demands of the 21st century.  We must make technology a priority, keep teaching methods current, and constantly strive to provide a learning environment that allows for innovation, engagement and active learning.

What issues or opportunities is the town facing today?

We are living in difficult economic times and we are faced with the challenge of continuing to offer a high-quality education with limited resources.  I understand that many people would like to see a budget that will allow for a zero tax increase, but we cannot lose sight of the importance of programs and initiatives that are necessary to prepare our students for their futures.  We cannot be impulsive in our decisions and react to the economic climate with cuts to the budget that will prove harmful in the long run.

How would you propose to address them?

The Board of Education must establish priorities and allocate spending accordingly, and we must control unnecessary spending while allowing for progress and growth.  The Board of Education must work collectively with the superintendent and other school administrators to present to the town council a responsible, prudent budget that does not sacrifice the level of education necessary to prepare our students to compete in a global marketplace. 

While the district moves forward in implementing its five-year goals and its framework for teaching and learning, we should evaluate for possible cost savings those programs and practices that might no longer be necessary.  Conversely, we must promote programs and initiatives that align with our district’s mission, vision, and goals, and that will prepare our students to reach global standards of achievement, leadership, and citizenship.