The State Board of Education consists of eleven members who are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly. Nine voting members are appointed to four-year terms. Two nonvoting student members are appointed to serve one-year terms. The Commissioner of Education, who serves as the secretary to the State Board, is appointed by the Board for a term coterminous with that of the Governor. The Commissioner of Higher Education serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member.

Allan B. Taylor, Chairperson - Hartford

Mr. Taylor was named chairperson of the Board by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2005.  He is a partner in the law firm of DayPitney, and has an extensive record in public service in the Hartford community.  He earned an A.B. from Harvard College; a M.P.P. from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.  Mr. Taylor has served on the Board since 1994, and is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Accountability.  He was elected as Northeast area director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, effective January 1, 2008.  Mr. Taylor’s current term expires February 2013.

Janet M. Finneran, Vice Chairperson - Bethany

Ms. Finneran retired in 2005 from the Cheshire Public Schools, where she taught high school biology for 18 years and Grades 7-8 biology and general science for 15 years.  She earned a B.A. from St. John’s University and a M.S. from Southern Connecticut State University. In addition to serving as vice chairperson of the Board, Ms. Finneran chairs the Board’s Policy Development Committee, co-chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Secondary School Reform and is a member of the Legislation Committee.  Ms. Finneran was appointed to the Board in 1995. Her current term expires February 2011.

Beverly R. Bobroske - Bristol

Mrs. Bobroske taught for three years and was a guidance counselor for 27 years with the Plymouth Public Schools.  She has a history of local, state and national public service, including 17 years on the Bristol Board of Education. In four of those years she served as chairperson.  Mrs. Bobroske is the chairperson of the Imagination Nation Children’s Museum Committee in Bristol.  She also served for two years as president of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and has served on state and national advisory councils.  Mrs. Bobroske served a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education.  She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Central Connecticut State University. Mrs. Bobroske chairs the Legislation Committee and is a member of the Connecticut Technical High Schools Committee.  Her current term on the Board expires February 2011.

Lynne S. Farrell - Shelton

Dr. Farrell is an attorney with the firm Farrell, Leslie & Grochowski, and specializes in juvenile law.   Prior to her legal career, Dr. Farrell was an elementary school principal and teacher in the West Haven Public Schools.  She has also served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University and the University of New Haven.  Dr. Farrell earned a J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law, Ph.D. from Fordham University, C.A.S. from Fairfield University, M.S. from Southern Connecticut State University and a B.A. from Albertus Magnus College.  Ms. Farrell is a member of the Policy Development Committee.  Her second term on the Board expires February 2011.

Theresa Hopkins-Staten - West Hartford

Mrs. Hopkins-Staten is director of Transmission Project Community Relations at The Connecticut Light and Power Company.  For 11 years, she served as senior counsel and assistant corporate secretary to Northeast Utilities. She also serves on the boards of numerous business, education and community organizations, including the National Urban League, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Metro Hartford Alliance Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the University of Connecticut Alumni Association’s African American Alumni Council.  Mrs. Hopkins-Staten earned a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Connecticut, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Goodwin College.  She is a member of the Policy Development Committee and the Connecticut Technical High Schools Committee.  Mrs. Hopkins-Staten is serving her second term on the Board, which expires February 2013.                                                    

Patricia B. Luke - East Hampton

Mrs. Luke served as executive director of the Elementary and Middle School Principals’ Association of Connecticut and as executive associate director and director of legislative services for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education from 1980 to 1999.  Prior to that, she taught in the Communications Department at Central Connecticut State University.  She has served on the boards of directors for both the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National School Boards Association.  Mrs. Luke attended the University of North Carolina and was awarded B.S. and MS. degrees by Central Connecticut State University.  Mrs. Luke chairs the Finance and Audit Committee and is a member of the Policy Development Committee.  Mrs. Luke’s third term on the Board expires February 2013.

Kathleen P. O’Connor - West Hartford

Mrs. O’Connor was appointed to the Board by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2009. She is a member of the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs practice in New York City and Albany, N.Y., and is employed by McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. Mrs. O’Connor earned a B.A. from Georgetown University in 1993, an M.S. in research psychology from the University College of London in 1994, and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1998. She has served as the Governor’s representative on the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board and currently serves on the Judicial Selection Commission for the State of Connecticut and is a Trustee at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Her term expires February 2013.

Linda E. McMahon - Greenwich

John Voss - New Fairfield

Dr. Voss was appointed to the Board in 2007.  He is an educational consultant to several Connecticut school districts and is an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University.  Dr. Voss began his career as a social studies teacher, and later served as both assistant principal and principal of Pomperaug Regional High School, and the director of curriculum for the Region 9 School District. Dr. Voss is a member of the Legislation Committee and chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Secondary School Improvement.  He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Wisconsin, his Sixth Year in Administration/Supervision from Southern Connecticut State University, and his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, Sarasota, Florida.  Dr. Voss’ term expires 2011.

Mark K. McQuillan, Commissioner of Education -                 Glastonbury

 Dr. McQuillan, as Commissioner of Education and secretary of the State Board of Education, oversees the Board’s mission to provide leadership in promoting an educational system that supports all learners in reaching their full potential.  Appointed in 2007, Dr. McQuillan leads the State Department of Education, which has purview over 166 local and regional school districts, 17 regional technical high schools, three endowed and incorporated academies and 16 charter schools.  Having spent his entire career in education, Dr. McQuillan holds advanced degrees from Harvard University and has served in a number of administrative capacities, including secondary curriculum coordinator, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and deputy commissioner of education and chief operating officer of the Massachusetts Department of Education from 2002-04.  From 2004 until his appointment as Commissioner, Dr. McQuillan served as executive director/president of EDCO, the Education Collaborative of Greater Boston.

Michael P. Meotti, Ex Officio - West Hartford 

Mr. Meotti was appointed in 2008 by the Board of Governors for Higher Education as the Commissioner of Higher Education.  He oversees the Department of Higher Education and reports to the Board whose job it is to coordinate, set policy and plan for the higher education system.  Commissioner Meotti has an extensive background in public policy, having served as President of United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Statutory Charge and Responsibilities

                                   State Board of Education Priorities