Early voting begins October 20. Election Day is November 4.

As a former educator, a parent of twin boys who just graduated from Staples, an advocate for all of our kids, and a member of the Board of Education, I never stop learning. 

I’ve actively followed best practices in reading instruction. That led to successful advocacy on the Board for a state-of-the-art reading curriculum. 

The results speak for themselves: 96% of all our third graders read at or above grade level, according to AimsWeb testing, and Westport was recognized as a model district at the National Dyslexia Conference. 

There’s always more to do. Our schools must address our facility needs, prevent bullying, and cultivate and support our professionals. I’ve  studied advanced interventions for ADHD.  It’s time we introduce fresh approaches for struggling learners, even if they don’t qualify for IEPs. 

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we can – and must – always do better.

Being on the Board means making tough decisions. We may not always agree, but know that I will always listen, learn and strive to bring people together around the best solutions for our students and teachers.

Every student should find the opportunities they seek and the support they need in our exceptional schools.  

My goal is to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all of our students whether they have an IEP, whether they have a 504, are in the gifted program, taking all AP classes, find themselves in the middle, whether they are struggling emotionally, socially or academically, I want to help them shine.

Education should be as suited to a student’s individual talents and needs as possible.  That is something my background as a teacher of special education has taught me.  When we individualize instruction as much as we can, any student can succeed.  

I am especially focused on how we can better support kids who are struggling.  Not everyone’s needs are addressed by a change in curriculum or approach.  The social and emotional supports we have introduced at the high school need to be expanded to the elementary schools.  And there is still more we can do to make high school and middle school more welcoming and inclusive.  

And of course, every student should see themselves in the curriculum, in the classroom and in the library.  

Our new Long Lots School is the biggest investment our town has ever made.  It will be worth it, to our students, our faculty, and every Westport taxpayer.  

Providing a new home for Stepping Stones Preschool is especially gratifying.  The Special Education PTA, of which I was a member and Co-Chair, has advocated for the last seven years for a new home for SSPS, our public preschool designed to enroll a 50-50 split of typical students and those with special needs.  It is currently confined to two small classrooms, unable to maintain the balance of typical and special education students.  The new home  will finally provide our youngest and most vulnerable learners the space they deserve.

Top notch facilities are expensive but vital.  For years we fell behind in capital investments, resulting in a crisis at Coleytown Middle School.  In the last few years, the administration and board, have completed a stepped-up schedule of projects, prioritizing keeping our schools temperate and dry. However, more projects await, including an overhaul of Coleytown Elementary.  

We need to plan a timetable that recognizes capital needs throughout town.  I am committed to attending all of the facilities committee meetings going forward.  I am always ready to learn, just like our students.

I have served with passion and joy on the Westport BOE for the past two years, and am eager to continue the good fight in pursuit of excellence in our childrens’ education. 

During my tenure we have earned record-setting 3rd grade reading scores, increased math and English achievement (over 80% of our kids in grades 3-8 are at or exceed grade level standards, which is higher than before COVID), implemented the first comprehensive security assessment and action plan in over a decade, and are ready to break ground on our first new school in over 20 years. 

With my years of advocacy prior to the BOE as the Westport PTA SPED co-chair, and serving as the PTA president, as well as my extensive professional background as an educator in NYC teaching literacy and ultimately as a learning specialist, serving all learners is my Why. 

Our childrens’ education depends on engagement, experience, understanding, and advocacy. I embody these qualities and will look forward to continuing to do so alongside all of my fellow stakeholders. 

Abby Tolan currently sits on the Westport BOE and has lived in Westport since 2012. She is married and has two children. 

In addition to the systems already in place (School Safety officers, Self-locking doors, visitors having limited access to the school during school hours), the district just engaged in the largest security safety assessment in 20 years. 

I look forward to the results of the assessment and am committed to continuing Westport's tradition of ensuring the safety of all of our students.

Since Sandy Hook and the continued incidents of school shootings, the Board has committed to updating our technology and adding additional protections that were not available in previous years. I believe that our schools are currently very safe as the district and local police continue to be thoughtful and diligent with our schools safety.

The integration of AI into schools is both an educational and moral endeavor. 

 Our responsibility is to equip students to use technology thoughtfully and responsibly, without letting it replace the deep processes through which they learn. We must also incorporate strong soft skills into our program, which both research and day-to-day living confirm are both vital to success and increasingly lacking in graduates. 

Our strategic plan addresses this dual challenge by creating a forward-facing, flexible program that balances technological fluency with human-centered growth. We must recognize technology’s potential while affirming the importance of human judgment, creativity, and compassion, producing graduates who are each prepared to contribute meaningfully to the future.