Candidate Bio: Marilyn Dunkley (D) Candidate for BOE

Marilyn Dunkley - Democratic Candidate for Board of Education

My name is Marilyn Dunkley and I am interested in the BOE

Little about me, I am a 33yrs old I am a Mother of 7 children, we are a blended family, (Ashley 23yr old, Steven 19yr old, Geoffrey 18yr old, & Essence 15yr old) they are my step children, but if you ask them I am just Mom. I have been raising them for the past 10yr. I gave birth to three children, Alicea 11yr old, Cilicia 8yr old, & Carlos is 4yr old. 

I have lived in Middletown my whole life, I went to Spencer School, then Kegwin, WWMS, & I am a Dragon Alumni Class of 2001.

I went to The Center of Culinary Art School and graduated 2004. I have children YMCA Preschool, Macdonough, WWMS, & MHS, I live in the North End And have for the past 8 years.

I have worked at First & Last Tavern, as a line cook, and One Macdonough, also as a line cook.

I currently work at the Middlesex YMCA as their Preschool Head Chef. 

I have been apart of:

People Empowering People

PLTI

Psee

CT Parent Power

Macdonough PTA President

Family Wellness Center

Family Resource Center/ Parents In Action

CRT Summer Lunch Program 5 years

I support:

North End Action Team (board member)

End Hunger Task Force

Middlesex Coalition for Children

Opportunity Knocks   

Breastfeeding Education

I have worked with:

John Romeo Macdonough School Principal 

Donna Moreno PLTI

Gwin Samuel CT Parent Power

Elizabeth Levering Morgan Oddfellows 

Izzi Greenberg Middlesex Coalition for Children

Bobbye Knoll Peterson NEAT

Nancy Meyers VITA 

Maureen Partyka Family Resource Center

Dawn Crayco End Hunger CT

Rick Starkey Salvation Army Captain 

Ryan Cayer & my whole board NEAT

Monica Belyea Opportunity Knocks

Christine Fahey Early Head Start

Jane Grant CRT Summer Lunch

I Have/still supported: 

Dan Drew

Matthew Lesser

Paul Doyle

Tom Gaffey

Jim Amann

Rosa DeLauro

My Goals:

Special Needs

Parent Engagement 

School Climate 

Elementary / Early Education 

High School students becoming well rounded productive citizen 

"I believe it only takes one person"

(Accepting ALL Candidate Bios! See format info here!)

Locals Kaskel and Dunkley Win Parent Involvement Awards at State

Brian Kaskel, 36 a Bielefield Elementary School father of two daughters was among a small group of parents honored on Nov. 21 in Hartford for the Parental Involvement Recognition Award.The 2013 awards were presented by the State Education Resource Center and CT Parent Information and Resource Center, and the Connecticut Commission on Children. Kaskel recently ran as a Republican candidate for Middletown's Board of Education. He as also endorsed by the local teacher's union - the Local Federation of Teachers -for his involvement in local education. Kaskel is a parent representative on the Board of Education's budget committee and is an elected member representing parents on the Bielefield Governance Councils. Kaskel was nominated by Bielefield School principal Jeff Fournier.

Marilyn Dunkley, a parent of students who attend Macdonough Elementary and mom of seven was nominated by principal Jon Romeo for her diligent work in the school community. Dunkley is a PTA member, involved in NEAT, and on Macdounough's School Governance Council.

Criteria for the parents nominated for the state's Parental Involvement Recognition Award were active involvement in the their children's school or community; support of their local school and contributions to high-quality education for all students; evidence of their ability to make a difference in their local school or community; and dedication and advocacy to ensure equity for all students.