Profiles of Candidates for Board of Education 2019-21
Doug Pfenninger
Doug was elected in 2015 to a four year term. He is serving as the BOE Chairman. Doug is a retired small business owner. He previously served on the Board of Education in Bethany.
Nora Mocarski
Nora was elected in 2015 to a four year term. She is serving as the BOE secretary. Nora is a social studies teacher and Department Chair in the Canton Public Schools.
Profiles of the Current Democratic Elected Board of Education
Cheryl Heffernan
Cheryl is a proud product of a public school education and her children attend very good public schools as well. As a parent of public school children she actively participated in school activities, including fund raising and as a room parent for each of her daughters, while managing her small law firm. As an attorney for over 25 years she has honed her advocacy skills, skills that will be valuable to the Board of Education as contract as contracts and policies are a major part of the BOE’s responsibility. While Cheryl only moved to Winsted a year ago, she has a strong devotion to her adopted home town. She and her life partner Sean McGlynn purchased a blighted Victorian home and have spent the past year renovating it. Cheryl recognizes the value of being a resident of Winsted, as well as the responsibly to contribute to her community. She wants to see Winsted thrive and for that to happen the children of Winsted need to have the educational opportunities her daughters had and Winsted’s children deserve. That is her goal if she is elected to the Board of Education.
Michelle Hintz
Michelle has served on the BOE for the past two years. During this time she has trained with CABE and the state receiver. She has been an active participant in overseeing the formation of the budget as well as new policies that will improve the Winchester educational community. Michelle has lived in Winsted for 21 years. In the past years, Michelle has been active in the PTO and served as Secretary for one school year. She and her husband have two school age children. One child is in 7th grade and the other is in 10th grade. Michelle has a degree from Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Business Administration and from Central Connecticut State in Management of Information Systems. Michelle works for Optum Technology in their IT Finance department as an IT Process Lead for 13 years. She is currently serving as the Treasurer for the Laurel Commission. Michelle is running for Board of Education because she believes in our children’s future.
Alexandria Propfe
Alexandria has served on the Winchester Board of Education since March of 2016. During this time she has focused her energy on becoming a part of the team that will help to establish Winchester Schools as vital part in the growth and well being of our area children. During her time on the Board, she has trained with CABE and the state receiver. Alex has worked with other board members in overseeing the formation of the budget and has been a member of the Policy Sub-committee. Her goal is to see Winchester thrive as an educational community and to help build community relationships with the Winchester educational system.
Alex graduated from CCSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and from University of Hartford with a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and Computing. She has experience in teaching all grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. She currently works as an Intermediate and Middle School Grades teacher at St. Peter/St. Francis School. She has been a certified teacher in the State of Connecticut since 1990.
Alex and her husband moved into Winchester in 2001, but her family roots in Winsted go back to the early 1900s. She, her husband and two daughters love living in the area and look forward to many years ahead here.
As Candidates for the Board of Education, WE BELIEVE -
We feel this can only happen if the parents, school personnel and community work TOGETHER and support our Education system.
Doug Pfenninger
Doug was elected in 2015 to a four year term. He is serving as the BOE Chairman. Doug is a retired small business owner. He previously served on the Board of Education in Bethany.
Nora Mocarski
Nora was elected in 2015 to a four year term. She is serving as the BOE secretary. Nora is a social studies teacher and Department Chair in the Canton Public Schools.
Profiles of the Current Democratic Elected Board of Education
Cheryl Heffernan
Cheryl is a proud product of a public school education and her children attend very good public schools as well. As a parent of public school children she actively participated in school activities, including fund raising and as a room parent for each of her daughters, while managing her small law firm. As an attorney for over 25 years she has honed her advocacy skills, skills that will be valuable to the Board of Education as contract as contracts and policies are a major part of the BOE’s responsibility. While Cheryl only moved to Winsted a year ago, she has a strong devotion to her adopted home town. She and her life partner Sean McGlynn purchased a blighted Victorian home and have spent the past year renovating it. Cheryl recognizes the value of being a resident of Winsted, as well as the responsibly to contribute to her community. She wants to see Winsted thrive and for that to happen the children of Winsted need to have the educational opportunities her daughters had and Winsted’s children deserve. That is her goal if she is elected to the Board of Education.
Michelle Hintz
Michelle has served on the BOE for the past two years. During this time she has trained with CABE and the state receiver. She has been an active participant in overseeing the formation of the budget as well as new policies that will improve the Winchester educational community. Michelle has lived in Winsted for 21 years. In the past years, Michelle has been active in the PTO and served as Secretary for one school year. She and her husband have two school age children. One child is in 7th grade and the other is in 10th grade. Michelle has a degree from Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Business Administration and from Central Connecticut State in Management of Information Systems. Michelle works for Optum Technology in their IT Finance department as an IT Process Lead for 13 years. She is currently serving as the Treasurer for the Laurel Commission. Michelle is running for Board of Education because she believes in our children’s future.
Alexandria Propfe
Alexandria has served on the Winchester Board of Education since March of 2016. During this time she has focused her energy on becoming a part of the team that will help to establish Winchester Schools as vital part in the growth and well being of our area children. During her time on the Board, she has trained with CABE and the state receiver. Alex has worked with other board members in overseeing the formation of the budget and has been a member of the Policy Sub-committee. Her goal is to see Winchester thrive as an educational community and to help build community relationships with the Winchester educational system.
Alex graduated from CCSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and from University of Hartford with a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and Computing. She has experience in teaching all grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. She currently works as an Intermediate and Middle School Grades teacher at St. Peter/St. Francis School. She has been a certified teacher in the State of Connecticut since 1990.
Alex and her husband moved into Winchester in 2001, but her family roots in Winsted go back to the early 1900s. She, her husband and two daughters love living in the area and look forward to many years ahead here.
As Candidates for the Board of Education, WE BELIEVE -
- Every child’s future starts with a strong education and sense of belonging in their community;
- In working together as a cohesive board to ensure that all children in Winsted receive the highest quality education, while maintaining a fiscally sound budget;
- In transparency of all district data (test scores, financials);
We feel this can only happen if the parents, school personnel and community work TOGETHER and support our Education system.