Meet Richard Kagan, Democratic Candidate for Education Board

Middletown Patch's meet-the-candidates series allows voters to learn a little bit about the men and women running for public office this November. 

Richard C. Kagan, Ph.D., is a Democratic candidate for Middletown Board of Education

Education:

I am a grateful product of public education in North Hollywood, Calif. I received college and graduate training in East Asian history at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania. As a professor of history at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., for over 30 years, I was involved in all levels of education from secondary schooling to college and post graduate studies. I have paralleled my studies with active community engagement including civil and human rights. 

Employment: 

I moved here from Minnesota over two years ago to accompany my wife in her new job as president of Middlesex Community College. I am retiring slowly. Last year I was a visiting professor at Wesleyan. I also serve on the Board of Directors at The Connection Fund, the Middlesex County Historical Society, the Godfrey Genealogical Society, and as a Corporator of the Middlesex Community College Foundation. I am a member of the local chapter or the National Association of Colored People. 

Currently, I am a substitute teacher in Middletown High School and Middle Schools. I am a frequent teacher at the Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, MILE, and a speaker at various civic events. In addition I continue publishing in local and professional papers.  

Why do you want to hold public office in Middletown?

The primary reason for holding office is to continue my life of combining my educational career and knowledge with social and community progress. I share former Minnesotan Sen. Paul Wellstone’s political philosophy that  “Education and Democracy have the same Goal: The Fullest Possible Development of Human Capabilities.” 

In addition to the issues of the budget, and the development of new educational policies and programs, I would like to raise three additional issues to the Board, the city, and the public.

1.  Raise the level of academic accomplishment throughout the school.

2.  Use social media for greater communication with all parents and the community. 

3 . Reform the nature of study hall in the high school by creating active learning opportunities outside the standard curriculum.  

What is the town’s most pressing issue?

Middletown’s educational and economic system ranks somewhat in the middle of the state’s range of achievement. However, as we know, the state is not among the top national leaders in either area. Our population must be warned that the worsening or even the maintenance of the status quo in Middletown will lead to educational and economic disaster: our property values will decline, teachers will drop out of their career and/or move to other jobs or cities, the tax base will decline, graduates will not stay here for either a job or to give leadership.  

The crisis is national, but the effects are local. We must use our budgets and mobilize demand for more resources to bring the underachieving students up to a much higher level, to expand educational opportunities, and to create a strong educated class of leaders in the arts, the sports, vocational training, and college graduates. Without a strong and successful commitment, our democracy will be at risk. 

I want to add that I welcome the award to the school of over $2 million for a four-year program from the Connecticut Safe Schools/Healthy Students Diffusion Project which has among its goals “connecting family, schools, and communities,” as well as “promoting mental, emotional and behavioral health.”  I would advocate using some these funds to support some of my recommendations. 

What do you love most about Middletown?

The town still feels like a local community. The people are friendly. They nod and say “hello” on the streets. And they offer a rich variety of cultural and social experiences — from restaurants, to music, to theater, to meetings, to religious experiences, to coffee shops, and, to active political conversations and campaigns. The town is blessed with many organizations and educational foundations. I love Russell Library, Wesleyan University, and Middlesex Community College.  

And I look forward every morning for the phone call asking me to sub. at one of the schools.  

What do you like to do for fun?

Discover new places to walk, to listen, to see, to hear, and to meet.

How can voters contact you?

Through email at rckagan@gmail.com.

Other Candidate Bios

• Meet Richard Kagan, Democratic Candidate for Education Board
• http://middletown-ct.patch.com/groups/elections/p/meet-richard-kagan-democratic-candidate-for-education-board
• Meet James Streeto: Democratic Candidate for Common Council
• Republican Vying for City Treasurer on Mission to Defund Position
• Meet Paul Turenne, Democratic Candidate for Planning and Zoning

• Meet Dan Russo, Democratic Candidate for Planning and Zoning
• Meet Stephen Devoto, Democratic Candidate for Zoning Board
• Meet Sandra Russo-Driska, Republican Common Council Hopeful
• Meet Grady Faulkner: Democrat for Common Council Seat
• Meet Sheila Daniels, Republican for Board of Education
• Meet Sal Micciulla, Democratic Candidate for Assessment Board
• Meet Linda Salafia, Incumbent Republican Common Council Candidate
• Meet Deb Kleckowski: Republican Candidate for Common Council
• Meet Hope Kasper: Democratic Common Councilor for Re-Election
• Meet Ryan Kennedy, Republican Common Council Candidate
• Meet John Kilian, Realistic Balance Candidate for Mayor
• Meet Brian Kaskel, Republican Candidate for Board of Education
• Meet Stephen Smith, Candidate for Planning and Zoning
• Meet Nick Fazzino, Republican Candidate for Common Council
• Meet Tom Serra, Democratic Councilman Running for Re-Election
• Meet Tom Serra, Democratic Councilman Running for Re-Election
• Meet David Bauer, Republican Running for Common Council
• Meet Gerry Daley: Democrat Running for Common Council
• Meet Three Republicans Running for Planning and Zoning
• Meet Sebastian Giuliano, Republican Common Council Candidate
• Meet Phil Pessina, Independent Candidate for Common Council
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