There is an open seat on the Norwalk Board of Education (BOE) for District E due to Mike Barbis’s untimely death this fall.  His current term commenced in 2019 and runs through 2023.  District E comprises the neighborhoods of Brookside, West Norwalk, Harbor Shores, Harbor View, Rowayton, and Village Creek in Norwalk.  As of November 12, 2021, the Norwalk Public Schools website https://www.norwalkps.org/310925_2 states that “the Norwalk Democratic Town Council will name someone to Mike Barbis’s seat soon”.  

Attention All Registered Democrats in Norwalk District E:

Please sign this petition in support of The Norwalk Democratic Town Council appointing Jody Sattler to the open District E seat for the remainder of its term.  

Jody Sattler was a first time candidate for an At-Large BOE seat in this month's local election.  Jody is a registered Democrat, but ran on the Independents for Norwalk ticket because of her belief that political party affiliation is not pertinent to the mission and business of the BOE. Democratic candidates swept the ballot in almost every open position in Norwalk, including the 4 open At-Large BOE positions.  Jody received the 5th most votes among all candidates at 4,212 votes and she is the People's Choice for the 5th open seat in Norwalk.  Jody has years of experience in the corporate world (Client Rep and Global Sales Operations Manager at IBM), leading and participating in local volunteer and community organizations, and most importantly, as an involved parent within the Norwalk Public Schools system for 13 years and counting .* See below for a complete list of Jody’s Civic Boards and Engagements.

Jody Sattler’s commitment to our students and teachers is tireless and she is always ready to roll up her sleeves to advocate for the best interests of our students and our local schools across Norwalk.  I voted for her because she put forward a platform I could support -  academic rigor in the classroom, meeting each student where they are and helping them to achieve all that they are capable of, equity in education, support of extra-curricular activities including clubs, intramurals, competitive high school level sports and the integrity of the facilities and fields required to sustain and improve these activities and programs.   

As a member of the PTA at Rowayton Elementary School, Jody purposefully acted on one of her statements as a candidate -  that students who spend more time in school do better academically.  While other school districts were outsourcing before and after school programs to outside enrichment companies at exorbitant costs, Jody partnered with teachers, administration and the PTA to create Rowayton Academy, which became a model for other schools in Norwalk.  This is just one of many examples of Jody’s commitment to students and our community.  She has spent countless volunteer hours in the schools and has been a valued member of several district-wide initiatives including Middle School Redesign, Enrichment and School Governance Councils at every school level.

By signing this petition, you are submitting your request to the Norwalk Democratic Town Council to appoint Jody Sattler to the open District E seat on the Norwalk Public School Board of Education effective immediately.  

  

* Norwalk Civic Boards and Engagements

Rowayton Civic Association board member 2003-2006, President: 2006-2007

Rowayton Gardeners:  2002-2004

136 Stop Truck Ban:  Stopped through truck traffic on Highway 136, 2007

United Church Nursery School: Art Show: 2007-2008, Executive Board: 2008-2010, Enrichment Chair: 2010- 2012. Substitute teacher 2021

Lobbied for New Stop Sign at McKinley and Highland Ave: 2015

Rowayton School Parent Teacher Association: Treasurer: 2011-2013, President: 2013-2015

Rowayton Little League:  Vice President, Softball 2012-2019

Rowayton Academy: Before School Enrichment Director: 2013-2020

Roton Middle School Parent Teacher Association: Fundraising 2015-2017

Norwalk Public Schools: Academically Talented Redesign Committee 2017, Guidance Redesign 2018

United Church of Rowayton: Sunday School teacher 2010-2017, Deacon 2017-2020