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Wallingford Election 2025: Jen Passaretti Running For Board Of Education

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, October 13th 2025 at 14:52 GMT by Patch
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Wallingford residents are preparing for the 2025 local election, and one name that is steadily gaining recognition is Jen Passaretti, who has announced her candidacy for the town’s Board of Education. The article, posted on Patch on March 8 2025, offers a comprehensive look at Passaretti’s background, her platform, the broader context of the board election, and what voters can expect in the coming months.

Who is Jen Passaretti?

Passaretti is a long‑time Wallingford resident and former high‑school teacher in the local district. According to the piece, she began her teaching career in 2010, working primarily in the sciences at Wallingford High School. In addition to her classroom work, Passaretti has served on the school’s Parent Teacher Association and on a local community outreach committee focused on after‑school programs for at‑risk youth. Her most recent role, highlighted in the article, was a three‑year term as a volunteer board member for the district’s “Summer Learning Initiative,” a program that provides free STEM workshops to elementary students.

Passaretti’s résumé also lists a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut and active participation in the Connecticut Teachers’ Association. “I’ve seen how a well‑run board can change a student’s trajectory,” she says in the article, underscoring her motivation to bring her experience to the board’s decision‑making body.

The Board of Education Election

The Wallingford Board of Education is a four‑member body that sets policy, approves the district budget, and oversees curriculum standards and school operations. The article explains that the upcoming election will fill two seats, as the current term for the other two members ends in 2026. Candidates for these seats will be elected by the town’s voters on November 4 2025, and the article links to the Wallingford Town Clerk’s election page for registration deadlines and absentee ballot instructions.

The piece notes that the board has recently faced several contentious issues, including a debate over the use of technology in classrooms and a proposal to increase the district’s budget for mental‑health services. “These are hot topics for the electorate,” the article observes, and suggests that Passaretti’s platform is positioned to address them directly.

Passaretti’s Platform

Passaretti’s campaign priorities are laid out in a series of bullet points in the article:

1. Equity and Inclusion – She pledges to advocate for resources that ensure all students, regardless of background, have equal access to advanced coursework and extracurricular activities.

2. Teacher Support – Passaretti plans to work on professional development and to push for higher teacher salaries, arguing that quality educators are essential to student success.

3. Mental Health and Safety – The candidate stresses the importance of expanded counseling services, crisis intervention training for staff, and improved school safety protocols.

4. Technology and Digital Equity – She aims to address the “digital divide” by securing funding for 1:1 device programs and reliable broadband access in all schools.

5. Community Partnerships – Passaretti seeks stronger ties between the district and local businesses, nonprofits, and higher‑education institutions to provide internships, mentorships, and real‑world learning opportunities.

These points are backed up by a link to a candidate statement hosted on the Wallingford Board of Education’s official website (the article includes a direct “View full statement” button). In the statement, Passaretti emphasizes that her educational experience gives her a grounded understanding of classroom realities and the administrative challenges schools face.

How Passaretti Gained Momentum

The article tracks how Passaretti’s campaign has evolved from a quiet grassroots effort to a well‑publicized run. Early in the year, she posted a video on social media summarizing her vision, which the piece notes garnered 2,300 views and several shares from local community groups. She also held a town‑hall‑style meeting at the Wallingford Community Center on April 12 2025, where she answered questions about her stance on curriculum changes and budget allocation. The article quotes a resident who attended the meeting, describing Passaretti as “clear, confident, and deeply committed to student well‑being.”

The article also lists two other candidates who have declared for the board: a business owner, Michael Carpenter, who emphasizes fiscal responsibility, and a former school counselor, Lisa Baker, who focuses on mental health. Passaretti’s stated willingness to collaborate with her peers on the board is highlighted as a key point of differentiation.

What to Expect in the Election Cycle

Toward the end of the article, the writer outlines the next steps for voters. Registration deadlines are set for March 31 2025, with the option to vote early from April 15 to May 5 at the Town Hall. Absentee ballot requests are due by April 15 for those unable to vote in person. The piece includes a link to the Wallingford Town Clerk’s online portal for checking voter status and downloading ballots.

The article also provides a quick FAQ about the board election, addressing common questions such as how board decisions are made, what a board member’s term is, and how to contact candidates. It encourages readers to attend upcoming candidate forums, many of which are scheduled for June and July, and reminds them that the board’s decisions directly affect school funding, teacher hiring, and student services.

Bottom Line

Jen Passaretti’s candidacy is presented in the Patch piece as a thoughtful, experience‑rich option for Wallingford voters who care about education policy and community well‑being. The article balances biographical detail with clear explanations of her platform, situating her within the local political landscape and providing actionable information for voters. As the 2025 election approaches, the article serves as a useful primer for anyone looking to understand who is running for the Board of Education and what each candidate stands for.