Sheri McCready Brown: Candidate for Board of Education

Sheri McCready Brown

Candidate for Board of Education

Party Affiliation: Democrat

What inspired you to run for the Board of Education?

What inspired me to run on the board is my belief in the power of public education.  In my view, public education is the great equalizer. As a lifelong Norwalk resident, I believe it is critically important that we educate students who are academically capable, civically responsible, and globally engaged individuals. Additionally, having served as the public affairs officer for the school district, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that strong support and resources can have. I am committed to ensuring our students have the tools they need to become lifelong learners—thoughtful, industrious, and prepared to be productive stewards in an ever-changing world.

What local education work have you done and what has changed because of your work? 

Over the past several years, I have had conversations with families, teachers, building principals, and administrators to better understand the needs and strengths within our district. Through these conversations, it has helped me to focus on fostering collaboration and ensuring that every decision supports student success and staff well-being.

I’ve helped advocate for resources that support classroom instruction, professional development, and student mental health. These efforts have contributed to more consistent instructional practices, a stronger sense of community across schools, and a clearer alignment between district goals and classroom realities.

I believe meaningful change happens through relationships — by listening to families, educators and the community to translate those insights into thoughtful policy and practical improvements that benefit all students.

What perspectives would you add that the board currently lacks? 

I will work with the administration to create a regular community engagement calendar to help clarity and transparency in how we communicate decisions and data — from budgets to academic outcomes — in ways that are understandable to all community members. By making the information more accessible, we empower families to participate more meaningfully in shaping our schools.   As a Norwalk Board of Education member, I will continue to bring a perspective grounded in direct community connection, inclusivity, and frontline understanding of how district policies impact students, families, and staff day-to-day.

What are your top three priorities for the next school years and what is one thing you would deprioritize?

The three biggest priorities facing the District are funding, equity in education, and aging school buildings. To address funding, we’re building strategic partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and higher education to bring in new resources and expand learning opportunities beyond the district budget. At the same time, we’re focused on maximizing every dollar through smarter budgeting, data-driven decisions, and aligning resources to where they’re needed most—ensuring all students have what they need to succeed.Relative to equity, the District addresses equity by ensuring all students—regardless of race, language, income, or neighborhood—have access to high-quality teachers, programs, and resources. Through student-based budgeting, culturally responsive teaching, and inclusive curriculum, we are aligning supports to meet each student’s needs. We also engage families, elevate student voice, and use data to close opportunity gaps, making equity not just a goal, but a daily commitment. And finally, Norwalk is taking a proactive approach to modernizing its aging school buildings. Through long-term facilities planning, we’re prioritizing renovations and new construction to ensure safe, healthy, and modern learning environments for students and staff.  We’re also leveraging city and state partnerships to secure funding and minimize the impact on local taxpayers. Our goal is to create equitable, future-ready schools that reflect the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce. 

What changes would you implement to make the budget more parent readable? 

Fortunately, there are many initiatives that currently in place that I support to make the budget document more readable. For example, there is a dedicated budget website that serves as a one-stop hub for the operating and capital budget documents, process timelines, FAQ, user-friendly summaries, and media (videos/presentations) for families and community stakeholders.The site uses visuals, plain language, and highlights of key drivers and allocations so the general public can understand the budget without needing deep financial training.The district has earned recognition for its budget documents. NPS received the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award for fiscal year 2024-25—for the third consecutive year. For transparency prior to budget approval, NPS publishes the budget message, overview of budget drivers, and historical data so residents know why increases or changes are being proposed.  All budget-related public meeting materials (presentations, recordings) are made available so people can watch the discussions, ask questions, and understand how the line‐items were derived. 

What is your contingency order, if federal funds shrink or are taken away? 

I would sit down with the new Mayor, Common Council and BET to brainstorm ideas to identify and secure additional dollars – perhaps there would be some consideration to identify funds to hire a shared grants person to search/secure grants for the City and the NPS.

How would you approach the recent attendance concerns for multilingual students?

We continue to take steps to make schools welcoming and inclusive for all students. For example, identify MLL students whose attendance begins to slip, and have outreach teams engage with families proactively. Strengthen school-home connections. For families whose primary language isn’t English, foster regular communication in their home language, and create welcoming spaces where families feel safe to share concerns that may affect attendance.NPS maintains strong instructional support. For instance, I support continued professional development for staff working with MLLs, making sure the curriculum is engaging and relevant, which can boost engagement and thus attendance. Monitor data transparently and track attendance trends for MLLs by school, grade, and language group. This information is reported to the board and public so we can see where improvements are happening and where there are persistent gaps.

What should Norwalk families remember about you when they vote?

I am a lifelong resident, I attended Norwalk Schools and I’m a Brien McMahon High School graduate. Moreover, my daughter, Jourdan, also attended Norwalk schools.  In addition, early in my career I spent nine years as Public Affairs Officer for the District, which deepened my understanding of our District’s strengths and challenges. This experience fuels my passion to serve and contribute to the continued growth and success of our schools and community.During my tenure on the Board, we have stayed focused on what matters most—our students. I’ve championed efforts that have improved graduation rates, reduced absenteeism, and supported real growth in student achievement. I am especially committed to equity, student mental health, and making sure every child—no matter their background—has the support they need to succeed. Furthermore, I will support strengthening the relationship and continue to work closely with our union partners to ensure working conditions are fair, supportive, and sustainable. Our goal is to make Norwalk not just a place to work, but a place to grow—and to feel valued. That’s how we stay competitive and keep great educators in front of our students. In an urban district like ours, the challenges are complex, but I believe our kids deserve nothing less than bold, thoughtful leadership—and that’s what I continue to bring every day.