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School board nominee Daniel Juárez: "I believe that as a parent, I would be able to advocate for students and families."
Mayor Justin Elicker has selected a Yale fundraising coordinator and father of two New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) students to be the next member of the Board of Education.
According to Friday’s publication of the agenda for Monday’s next Board of Alders meeting, Elicker has picked Daniel Juárez to replace Yesenia Rivera on the school board.
Juárez’s selection comes less than a week after Rivera — who has spent the past five years on the Board of Education, including the last four as president — publicly announced that she would not be returning to the school board upon the expiration of her term at the end of December.
Juárez’s proposed appointment now heads to the Board of Alders for review. If he is approved, he would serve on the Board of Education through Dec. 31, 2028.
According to Juárez’s Board of Education application, he lives in Beaver Hills, and holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish from Bethel University and a master’s degree in vocal performance from the Yale School of Music.
Juárez currently works as a program coordinator in the corporate strategy and engagement office for Yale Ventures, a Yale division that “seeks to foster and accelerate a vibrant entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem” among Yale faculty and students.
Juárez wrote in his resume that, in his current job, he provides “advanced analysis and support for fundraising directors and gift officers in all aspects of prospect management, including drafting written materials, performing research projects, and planning and staffing special events for a fundraising program serving Yale’s most generous alumni and friends.”
Reached for comment on Friday, Elicker told the Independent, “Daniel will be a great addition to the board. He’s been involved in the past as a member of the City Wide Parent Team, is the father of two New Haven Public School students and shows a true interest in making the best decisions for our kids.”
In his application, Juárez wrote that he has two sons who are currently NHPS students, and he has 12 years of navigating the public school district. He wrote that, as a parent, he believes he would be able to advocate for students and families.
He also wrote that he’s served on “school PTOs, SPMTs, and district-level committees in the NHPS system. I am aware of some of the challenges school staff, teachers, school administrators, and the Superintendent of Schools and district staff contend with in their efforts to serve our city’s students.”
Juárez continued, “Third, I believe in public education and I believe New Haven has the resources to create a high-achieving school district that will better serve its students. I am convinced that the key to the success of NHPS will be collaboration and communication. When the BOE and Superintendent set measurable goals for improvement, work together collegially and collaboratively to honestly evaluate the progress toward those goals, and adjust its plans based on those honest evaluations, I believe our schools will improve and our students will benefit.”
If confirmed, Juárez would be one of seven voting members on the Board of Education, alongside the mayor, four mayoral appointees, and two elected members.