Meet the Candidate: Cynthia Kobus

"Meet the Candidates" is a feature on Berlin 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 non-partisan Berlin Board of Education candidates:

Name: Cynthia "Cindy" Kobus
Age: 36
Board Seeking: Board of Education         
Family information: Married. 2 children, Willard Students ages 7 and 9.
Occupation, if applicable: Former K-12 Public school teacher/ Adjunct Professor at ECSU. Currently home with children.
Political Experience: Previously served two-year term on the Board of Education form 2010-2012.
Other Experience: Masters degree in Educational Leadership, Former Varsity Soccer and Tennis coach, Religious Education Teacher at St. Paul Church. Former Assistant to the Director at Camp Eagle Feather in Rocky Hill.

Why am I running for office?
From being a camp counselor to teaching and coaching, I have always had a desire help children develop to their full potential.  Although each of these ventures has given me numerous opportunities to touch the lives of children, I have always wanted do more. Being on the Board of Education would give me an opportunity to share my ideas and experiences in order to improve education for all students, not only those in my classroom, in my group or on my team.

Of all of my experiences, teaching at the college level opened my eyes and made me want to do more. Students came to class needing to be remediated and struggling to get by. This was not an isolated problem but a systemic one. There is a lot that needs to change in education and during my two year term on the board many things were implemented to start that change. I would welcome the opportunity to continue to work on ensuring that our students have a solid curriculum that is delivered by competent teachers in suitable facilities.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus? 
One particular area of interest, purely because of my background, is student achievement. I am not interested in having the best test scores or a state championship banner hanging in the gym. My goal is that each student, whether AP or Special Education, has the opportunity to succeed. No student should get lost in the crowd and slide by. There needs to be attention given to achievement for each individual that we serve. I believe that if you focus on individual success the things that are desired (test scores and banners) follow shortly behind.

Another focus that I feel is important, and sometimes overlooked, is communication with the public. I think that an effort needs to be made to make procedure and policy clear and parent friendly. I have been to a few meetings where parents left feeling they were not heard. What was perceived as rudeness was actually board policy. There needs to be an effort to communicate more effectively with the community when concerns arise and it will be one of my goals to make that process a little less intimidating.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Berlin today?
It goes without saying that completing the high school is the major issue at this point. I do believe that the building itself is not the issue, but maintaining normalcy and delivering the same education throughout the process that is most important. State regulations are also causing some growing pains across the district with the implementation of the common core. Keeping up with what is changing in education will be a constant focus of the district for some time and it is imperative that we not lose sight of what we feel is important for children.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?
What I really hope to bring to the community is rational perspective based on experience. My degree in education helps. A master’s degree in Educational Leadership helps a little more. Most importantly is real world experience. I have taught almost every grade in both the city and the suburbs. I know what it takes to teach, and it takes more than most will ever know. Having already served on the board also allows me to jump right in without having to figure out how things work. Most importantly I am passionate about children and feel strongly that we never lose that as our focus. The board does a lot of things but when it comes down to decisions it needs to be about what is right for those that we serve.

(Optional) Anything else you would like to share?
On a final note, I want to reassure the people of this town that I will not lose sight of the fact that education is not “free” and that tens of thousands of people in this town are investing in our schools and trusting us to make the right decisions with their money.

I am hoping to once again be a productive member of the Berlin Board of Education so that all of our students get the most out of the education that you, the taxpayer, provide for them. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me and feel free to email me at cbkobus@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions that were not answered.

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