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Date: 3/24/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – This year’s annual town election on June 8 will see races for an open seat on the East Longmeadow School Committee and two positions on the Town Council. Two candidates have taken out nomination papers for the School Committee – Sarah A. Truoiolo is running for re-election, while Aimee Dalenta is seeking her first term as an elected official. Thomas O’Connor is running to maintain his seat on the council and is facing opposition from Connor O’Shea and Cassandra Cerasuolo.
Reminder Publishing reached out to all of the candidates and asked them to introduce or reintroduce themselves to residents. The following are their introductions in their own words.
School Committee
Sarah Truoiolo
It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since I earned your vote and a position on the School Committee. As a mom with children of my own in the district, I understand how every decision impacts the lives of students and families and I take that responsibility very seriously. This past year presented us with a series of extremely difficult and emotional decisions. The choice between returning for in-person learning or staying with a remote model wasn’t easy. The science and experts agreed that we must be careful and thoughtful when determining when it was safe to reopen classrooms. To that end, I worked within state guidelines, listened to community feedback, and engaged our administration to strike a balance between safety and in-person learning opportunities. While the process wasn’t always linear, I’m thrilled choice was afforded to families and that both options are currently available.
While some may say that our community was fractured by these decisions, I see it differently. The discussions regarding in-person versus remote instruction reignited a fire within our community around education. Seeing the number of participants at School Committee meetings climb weekly spoke to the passion our community has for education. We’re inextricably united by our desire to do what’s best for students.
My life’s work centers on placing students at the forefront of decision-making practices in education. My undergraduate and graduate work in education and educational policy at Smith College and the University of Pennsylvania gave me the knowledge I needed to enter the field. I’ve gained critical experiences over the past 16 years as a classroom teacher, math coach, and now, a director of mathematics for Pre-K-grade 12. That knowledge and experience fuels my work on the School Committee.
I’ve been honored to serve as vice-chair for two years. I utilized that role to highlight issues that I’ve been in support of and conversely, been vocal about issues that I’ve viewed as concerning. I’ve never shied away from having my voice be heard because I know how important these issues are in town.
While the past year presented our district with many challenges, there’s also much that was learned. It’s how we choose to shape education as a community moving forward that’ll define the impact that the pandemic has had. If re-elected, I’ll continue to advocate for a student-first approach to education. In the days, weeks, and years to come our students will need us more than ever. A few key topics that are paramount include: balancing academic loss with social-emotional support, our community rallying behind our efforts to build a new high school and ensuring that our policies/procedures match our desire to be an inclusive community that values diversity.
Districts around the country have begun to think about how they’ll “build back better,” but beyond that, I think in East Longmeadow we need to remember who we’re building back for. If we seek to do what’s best for students, then we’ll undoubtedly do what’s best for our community. I look forward to meeting you and engaging in conversations in the months to come as I work to earn your vote.
Aimee Dalenta
Citizens of East Longmeadow, it is an honor and a privilege to introduce myself to you. My hope is that after you read this profile, you will have a sense of who I am: a competent, candid, and sincere candidate with vast knowledge about the field of education. These characteristics will make me an excellent addition to the East Longmeadow School Committee.
I grew up in Connecticut, attended Springfield College, and permanently settled in Western Massachusetts in 2005. I began my career as an elementary school teacher and then transitioned to more flexible work opportunities after starting my family. During my children’s youngest years, I completed my master’s degree and worked in many different roles with local youth, including as a private tutor, a youth basketball coach, an owner of a childcare center, a programmer for infant/toddler classes through the Recreation Department, and a christian education director at my church. After years of working part-time and raising my three children, I decided to apply my skills and interests to a career in higher education. In 2014, I became a professor of education. During that time, I also went back to school and earned my doctorate in education. I now work as a full-time faculty member and department chair at Springfield Technical Community College, a position to which I am deeply committed.
Although I have never held an elected office before, I am confident that my willingness to listen, ask questions and work collaboratively with others, coupled with my expertise in the field of education, will help me to best serve this community and improve educational opportunities for our children. You will find me to be assertive, but flexible, diplomatic, but transparent, and knowledgeable, but keenly aware that there is always more to learn.
After a very trying year for everyone, we now must look toward post-pandemic life and learning. With that in mind, my immediate focus will be on how to remedy any academic and social concerns that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. Thereafter, I hope to focus on other vital initiatives such as universal Pre-K, our new high school, and issues of equity and inclusion, among others, with the hope of putting East Longmeadow at the forefront of school districts in Massachusetts.
As Election Day approaches, I invite you to engage with me in person via my 100-street walking tour, and on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/aimeeforeastlongmeadow.
I am eager to meet you, hear your perspective, and earn your vote. As always, the children will be at the center of the conversation.
Town Council
Thomas O’Connor
My name is Tom O’Connor, and I am running for re-election on June 8 for a three-year term on our East Longmeadow Town Council, and I would appreciate your vote.
I bring experience – 33 years of experience in business management, compliance, and information management and in facilities management for two Fortune 500 companies and as a small business owner. My experience includes creating million-dollar budgets, enforcing regulatory compliance, and identifying process improvement opportunities. In the past, I have also spent time as a firefighter and in law enforcement. This diverse background has given me the broad and specific knowledge and experience needed to help keep our taxes under control. I take a common-sense, data, and fact-driven approach to town issues.
I bring current town service. Since being elected in 2018 to a three-year term on the Town Council, I have served or am currently serving on a variety of Town Council sub-committees including council’s [committees on] finance, licensing, planning, town manager evaluation and by-laws. Additionally, I was elected Town Council vice president in July of 2020.
I bring previous town service. I have a strong working knowledge of town operations and functions. From 2006 to 2018, I served as an elected member of the Charter Commission, chair of the Capital Planning Committee, appointed member of the town manager contract committee, and chair of the Registrar of Voters. I also served on several other project task forces including the town’s 125th Anniversary Committee.
I was delighted to join the East Longmeadow community many years ago when my company transferred me back to Massachusetts, where I was born. My wife, Evelyn, taught briefly at East Longmeadow High School and our son, Dylan, graduated there. I like spending time outdoors, playing golf, and spending time with my wife which has included taking our son to martial arts classes and tournaments for over 12 years.
I have worked tirelessly for our town over the last 15 years, and I would appreciate the opportunity to continue to represent you on the town council for the next three years.
Connor O’Shea
I’m a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow and I work as a software developer, which has given me strong problem solving, teamwork, project management, mentoring, and communication skills. I graduated from Westfield State University with my bachelors in computer information systems and a minor in Business management. A number of courses for the minor include accounting and financial management, which would aid in the council’s responsibility of financial oversight and appropriation.
In the past, I have volunteered for ELCAT, producing various meetings and events and conducted my Eagle Scout service project for the Pleasant View Senior Center. I have taken a more active role in town government since my campaign for Town Council last year. In addition to continuing my role on the Planning Matters subcommittee of the Town Council, I have also joined the Broadband Committee and serve as chair of the Master Plan Oversight Committee.
One of the reasons I decided to get involved in local government was my belief that the town needed a plan that was rooted in input from the community. Chairing the Master Plan Oversight Committee has allowed me to help the town develop a plan for the foreseeable future that reflects the needs and interests of residents.
With the town having an annual budget of over $63 million, one of my goals is to ensure that we balance the projects the community wants with an affordable tax rate to avoid pricing taxpayers out of town. Once the Master Plan is finalized in the coming months, the next important step that I look forward to helping with is ensuring that the town takes action to implement the plan and make policy decisions that are in alignment with the wishes of residents.
East Longmeadow is a great community with a strong past; I look forward to representing the residents of East Longmeadow and bringing a fresh perspective to the Town Council. Together, we can make our town an even better place to live.
Cassandra Cerasuolo
I grew up in East Longmeadow and have been a resident here now for over 20 years. I attended East Longmeadow Public Schools and then went on to complete my degree at Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Along with a degree in business management from Isenberg, I have multiple certifications in nutrition and health coaching.
For over 6 years now, I have owned a small business in town and have really enjoyed staying local. When I had an opportunity to move my expanding business, I chose to stay as opposed to relocating.
My company employs local students and young adults from surrounding colleges. I take a lot of pride in being a local, woman-owned business, and take time to mentor and advise other small business owners and women in business. We spend time working on ways to empower each other and lift other businesses owners and women up.
In my free time, I volunteer with my dog, Fitz, who is a certified Bright Spot therapy dog. Pre-COVID, we would visit various nursing homes and colleges. I also have a personal link with the ALS Association community in Massachusetts, and spend time working with them.
My decision to get involved as a small business owner in town was based on the idea that I would be able reflect the thoughts and feelings of other business owners in town. I really believe our town is capable of attracting more small businesses to help us thrive as a community.