Editor’s note: The Easton Courier asked candidates to submit a profile and a statement discussing three top issues facing Easton and how the candidate will help address them. Alicia Young, Republican incumbent on Easton’s Board of Education, submitted the following response.
Profile
Alicia Young, a long-time resident of Easton and graduate of Joel Barlow High School, is running for election to Easton’s Board of Education. Young was appointed to fill a Board of Education vacancy in 2022, and currently serves on the Curriculum and Facilities committees. Earlier this year, Young joined the Easton PTO Board and the JBHS Boosters Club. Young and her husband, Jay, have two children in the school system.
Outside of town volunteerism, Young is a Founding Managing Partner of Finn Partners, a global communications and marketing agency that has been recognized as a Best Place to Work (2013), the Mid-sized Agency of the Year (2015 and 2022), and Best New Agency (2012). She sits on the Executive Committee, overseeing operations of several business units in the New York headquarters as well as European operations.
As a practitioner, Young is an award-winning, results-driven executive with experience leading integrated programs that build brand awareness, drive reputation, and launch new commercial initiatives. She was named a 40 Under 40 Outstanding Alumni by the University of Connecticut, received the Model of Excellence Award (with Women in Technology) from Dress for Success, delivered a keynote address on mentorship and the digital divide at the United Nations Annual Commission of the Status of Women, and was a panelist with The Geno Auriemma Leadership Summit. She has volunteered with God’s Love We Deliver, Covenant House, The Connecticut Food Bank, and NY Common Food Pantry. Young began her career as a news correspondent with The Hartford Courant.
Statement
Young believes the Board of Education must continue to prioritize rigorous academic achievement for every student and the recovery of learning loss due to the pandemic. Specifically, Young is committed to the following:
- Ensuring financial resources are effectively put toward the best educators, programs, materials, and facilities needs among Easton’s peer districts.
- Minimizing distractions that risk taking focus away from students.
- Focusing on the future and the discovery of new and different ways to evolve our district even further.
“We must focus our resources on student achievement, while balancing the commitment to taxpayers,” said Young. “We lost precious years of learning that our children will never get back, and that must be addressed. I also believe in fostering strong, authentic relationships between our schools, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community at large. It takes everyone working together. We are a top school district within our state, and I believe every Easton resident should be proud of that.”
Since joining the Board in 2022, Young has served with the Curriculum Committee to help the district implement new and state-mandated programs. On the newly formed Facilities Committee, Young wants to address perennial issues at both school buildings while developing a financial plan that proactively addresses future repairs and needs.
“There are issues at both schools that require attention, and I believe if these same recurring problems were happening within any of our homes, they would have already been fixed.”
