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Knowledge, Dedication, and Cooperation

Elections don’t always seem important, but this one is. I encourage your readers to vote for newcomers to the Board of Education. We lose Democratic chair Maureen Westbrook and Pat Labbadia, but in their place, I recommend and support Mary Ella Luft and Zack Hayden.

Mary Ella is an RN for 36 years, including Visiting Nurses of Westbrook, and a proud parent of Westbrook Public School graduates (two salutarians who are now in UConn’s Honors Program). Zack is the dean of faculty and an English teacher at The Oxford Academy, with children attending Westbrook schools.

Both Mary Ella and Zack as parents are a constant fixture at our kids’ schools; they are committed to help make events and activities happen, even when that means leading it themselves. I have known Mary Ella for all our kids’ school lives, leading the PTSO group of parents at each school to provide activities to benefit both students and teachers. She works tirelessly to contribute, always with a kind word and laugh, which makes the work easier and inspires the group. She’s super organized as she has multiple events going at the same time and you will see her at each one, standing at the table, while everyone else is participating. Mary Ella is the person you call if you want something done right!

Both Mary Ella and Zack understand the importance of providing a quality educational experience to all Westbrook students and the tools and resources needed to be successful, in the classroom in Westbrook and beyond. Mary Ella and Zack bring experience, knowledge, dedication, and cooperation the boards requires.

I encourage your readers to join me on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, and vote for Mary Ella Luft and Zack Hayden.

Marie Farrell

Westbrook