Terry H. Jones, known as the owner of Shelton’s Jones Family Farms, has been nominated to the state Board of Education.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made the nominations, and announced his selection Friday afternoon.
Jones could not be immediately reached for comment.
He has run his family farm business since 1960 and with the help of his wife Jean, expanded the farm to 400 acres, according to a press release from Malloy’s office.
Four generations of the Jones family have farmed there, with specialties including pumpkins, strawberries and Christmas trees.
Jones is the only nominee from the Valley. Malloy also nominated Ferdinand L. Risco, Jr. of New Haven, Joseph J. Vrabely, Jr. of Glastonbury, Patricia Keavney-Maruca of Watertown, Ellen Camhi of Stamford, Charles A. Jaskiewicz, III of Norwich, Estela López of East Hartford, and Stephen P. Wright of Trumbull.
“It is incumbent upon us to put in place a set of standards that will allow Connecticut students to be the best educated and best prepared in the world — one that provides them with the tools necessary to compete in a global economy,” Malloy said in a statement. “These nominees come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and I’m confident they can help set the standards needed to bring our students to the top. I look forward to working with the members of the State Board of Education as we strive to ensure that all of Connecticut’s children have access to quality education.”
The State Board of Education establishes academic standards and sets policy for Connecticut’s 149 local and 17 regional school districts, including preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education and adult education. The Board consists of thirteen members, at least two of whom have experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the Technical High School System, at least one of whom has experience in agriculture, and two nonvoting Grade 12 student members.
The 11 voting members are appointed to four-year terms.
