For the 2025 Wilton Municipal Elections, GOOD Morning Wilton asked all candidates to submit a 150-word bio; candidates running for the Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education and the Planning and Zoning Commission were asked to sit for a video interview and submit an 800-word op-ed. In addition, candidates in the other races were invited to submit an op-ed if they wanted. More information is available in GMW’s Election Guidelines and Policies.
GMW Video Interview
Candidate Submitted Bio
Nicola Davies, incumbent vice-chair of the Wilton Board of Education, has proudly called Wilton home since 2005, when she and her husband chose the town for its small-town character and outstanding schools. From the start, she immersed herself in the community, volunteering with Minks to Sinks, Wilton Youth Council, Ambler Farm and the Connecticut Humane Society.
Her greatest passion has always been Wilton’s schools. Over the past decade, Nicola has held PTA leadership roles in all four schools, gaining a deep understanding of the district and building trusted relationships with administrators, teachers and families. A strong advocate for the arts, she values their role in shaping student growth.
On the BOE, Nicola has contributed to long-range planning, the climate committee, math curriculum review and the nutrition and wellness committee. With a B.S. in economics, she brings analytical skill, positivity and dedication to ensuring every student is valued.
Candidate Submitted Op-Ed
Why I’m Running Again: Keeping Wilton’s Schools Exceptional
by Nicola Davies (D), Candidate for Wilton Board of Education
I am seeking re-election to the Wilton Board of Education because I believe deeply in the power of our schools to shape lives and strengthen our community. There is still work I feel called to do.
Every morning when school buses stop outside my house, I’m reminded of what makes Wilton extraordinary — a community that still believes in public education as a shared promise. My belief comes from the 20 years our family has called Wilton home. Our sons, now both in college, were educated K-12 through Wilton Public Schools, both were encouraged to be self navigating expert learners and they found their passions through the encouragement and dedication of our Wilton educators.
Four years ago, on a Zoom call, someone forgot to mute their microphone and called me a ‘f***ing do-gooder.’ They weren’t wrong. I’ve embraced the sobriquet ever since. My do-gooding extends to Ambler Farm, Wilton Youth Council, the Connecticut Humane Society and Minks to Sinks. Volunteering has deepened my understanding of Wilton and the people who call it home.
As a community that values education, we are a beacon to families that seek excellence in public education, and to teachers who know they will receive support and professional development to hone their teaching craft. Our reputation as a great place to learn and teach did not happen by accident. It’s the result of years of investing in teachers, refining curriculum and making evidence-based decisions that benefit students and staff.
I am proud of the support that the current board has given to Superintendent Kevin Smith. It is clear that the priorities, values and goals of the board align with Dr. Smith’s, and this makes for a board that trusts our CEO and allows him to get on with his job of keeping Wilton schools great.
Four years is a long time in education, and I want to highlight two areas where Wilton has excelled:
First, in rebuilding after COVID, we rethought how to recover unfinished learning. Wilton did this so successfully that we were recognized nationally this year as one of only 100 districts exceeding pre-COVID math and reading performance.
Second, we’ve led Connecticut in acting on clear evidence that cell phones hinder students’ focus. We had the courage to make all our schools phone-free during the school day — freeing up time for real connection in classrooms, hallways and lunchrooms.
Four years ago, in my last op-ed, I wrote:
“My goals, therefore, are first, to ensure that our board stays focused on educating our children, improving our math outcomes and reviewing our curriculum, and not become distracted by partisan issues that don’t relate to us.”
I stand by those goals and even though we have accomplished a lot, the goalposts are forever shifting. Four years ago, none of us foresaw how AI would reshape learning or that the state would mandate sweeping changes to our reading and writing curriculum.
It is vitally important to keep our students at the center of the conversation about what we do, how we form our goals and priorities and how we evaluate our progress. This focus is possible because we have a well-functioning, supportive Board of Education.
We prioritize our children’s education, honor their individuality and make bold, forward-looking choices that put students at the center of everything we do. As the world keeps changing, the north star stays the same — ensuring our classrooms foster critical thinking and creativity, not just test scores.
I am proud of the strong partnership between the board and our educators. By supporting teachers and administrators in their work to continually refine instruction and strengthen student wellness and belonging, we have allowed them to focus on what matters most — delivering a world-class education for every student.
Looking ahead, my priorities remain clear: to ensure academic excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility, to support student well-being, and to prepare our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Wilton’s strength lies in its people — its teachers, its families, and its belief that every child deserves to be known. That’s the vision I’ll keep fighting for on the Board of Education.