New Board of Ed appointees Dr. Abie Quiñones-Benítez and OrLando Yarborough III.
Two dissenting voices are leaving the Board of Education, in the wake of Mayor Justin Elicker’s latest appointments.
Elicker has decided not to renew the terms of board members Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur and Larry Conaway, who often raised questions about administration policy at board meetings and most often cast dissenting votes along with the one sometimes-dissenting voice on the board, elected member Darnell Goldson.
“Laudable commitment”: Exiting board members Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur, Larry Conaway
“I’m thankful for the service Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur and Mr. Larry Conaway. Their commitment to the success of our students is laudable,” Elicker stated in a news release announcing their replacements.
Elicker announced that he has appointed Dr. OrLando Yarborough III and Dr. Abie Quiñones-Benítez to fill the pair’s slots. The appointments now go before the Board of Alders for review and confirmation.
“Collaboration is one of our core values,” the release quotes schools Superintendent Iline Tracey as saying.
The appointments come at a time when the Latino population has grown fast in New Haven, representing the largest group of both New Haven public school students and city residents in general. Some activists have pushed for greater representation of Latinos on the Board of Education. Click here to read about how that issue emerged when the Board of Alders took up the nomination of Conaway, a retired principal, in 2019.
The release included the follow biographies of the new appointees:
Abie L. Quiñones-Benítez
Dr. Quiñones-Benítez is an educational professional with an expertise in English as a Second Language (ESL) learners and curriculum development. She has taught and served in leadership roles at the Elementary, High School, and Collegiate levels.
Dr. Quiñones-Benítez began her career in education at New Haven Adult Ed in 1986 where she taught ESOL and Spanish GED classes. Following a stop at Gateway Community College, she returned to Adult Education where she served as a Spanish teacher for over a decade in an inter-district program between New Haven, Hamden, and Orange.
After spending time as a Professor at the University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez returned to New Haven Public Schools and served two years as vice principal of Hill Regional Career High School and eleven years as Principal of Christopher Columbus Family Academy (now FAME). More recently she served as Lancaster, PA Director of Schools and is currently serving as a consultant for Meriden public schools.
Dr. Quiñones-Benítez holds a PHD in Curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut. She completed a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and has an undergraduate degree from Universidad de Puerto Rico.
Dr. OrLando Yarborough III
Dr. OrLando Yarborough is a leadership consultant, coach, scientist, and faith leader. Since 2015 he has served as Pastor at the Black Church at Yale University. Dr. Yarborough also serves as a coach and facilitator at the Yale School of Management while running his own company – The Well Company – which offers coaching and consulting services for STEM and other professionals.
Dr. Yarborough earned his PhD in Genetics from Yale University investigating the genetics of high blood pressure and he completed a Yale postdoc in Internal Medicine investigating mitochondrial metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes. Prior to that he completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he majored in Biological Sciences and Africana Studies.
Dr. Yarborough serves in leadership capacities of numerous non-profit organizations, including as Board Chair of Friends Center for Children, Board Member of the Yale Alumni Association, and as Co-founder of EMERGE.
Dr. Yarborough and his wife, Dr. Rashele Yarborough, have a daughter and are members of Church on the Rock New Haven.