facebookHeather was elected to her first term on the Board of Education in 2005, following distinguished service as a volunteer for many parent organizations in the Darien schools.
Focus on Budget
Currently Heather chairs the Board of Education’s Budget Committee, leading the board in securing approval by the Board of Finance for annual operating and capital budgets. She improved the board’s budget format to enhance public understanding and involved the board in quarterly financial forecasting. Heather also took an active role in negotiating the administrators’ contract, and she assisted in the transition of the new director of finance for the school system.
As a member of the board’s Curriculum Committee, Heather promoted evaluation of the existing foreign language curriculum and inclusion of foreign language instruction in the lower grades. She also supported and advocated the new technology plan, now entering year three of implementation.
Special Education
According to Heather, the single biggest challenge that the Board of Education faces in the next several years is the growing cost of the special education program. Says Heather: “This program affects both the children receiving special education services and the regular education students, where we must ensure that sufficient resources continue to be made available. Finding the proper balance is complicated by state regulations and a growing emphasis on litigation and outside advocacy.”
Curriculum
During her second term on the board, Heather will focus on raising the bar on the curriculum. According to Heather, “The world we are preparing students to enter has changed dramatically. We must continue to ask how students’ needs are changing and what should we be doing differently. We must provide adequate support to students who need more help meeting our higher expectations, and we must ensure that teachers are adequately prepared to deliver our curriculum consistently.”
Enrollment
Heather notes that enrollment growth at the high school will continue to be a focus of the board, stretching the school’s resources. “The size of the school, rising competition in college admissions, and the delicate balance between teenage maturity and their ability to accept responsibility all present challenges as the DHS population increases,.” she says.
Family, Educational, and Community Background
Heather and her husband Brian have lived in Darien 17 years, raising two children who attend Darien schools. In addition to volunteering as treasurer for The Depot Teen Center and coaching a student team for Odyssey of the Mind, Heather works as a financial planning assistant with Shea Financial Advisors. From 1982 to 1996, Heather was a corporate banker; she earned BS and MBA degrees from the University of Santa Clara.