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
Pam Ely is running for re-election to the Board of Education, bringing decades of experience as a teacher, administrator and community leader. A Wilton resident since 1983, Pam has been deeply involved in local life, serving as a lay leader at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and volunteering with Minks to Sinks, Wi-Act, Circle of Care and Open Door.
Professionally, Pam spent over 20 years as the director of the Children’s Day School and worked closely with the Wilton schools to ensure early interventions and student success. She holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College, Bank Street College of Education and Adelphi University.
If re-elected, Pam will continue to work closely with the superintendent and advocate for policies that strengthen Wilton’s schools and uphold the standard of excellence for students and teachers.
Candidate Submitted Op-Ed
Pam Ely: Why I am Running for a Second Term
by Pam Ely, Democratic Candidate for Board of Education
It is my honor to be running for a second term for the Board of Education. As a board member I spent the last four years navigating the post Covid challenges the Wilton Schools faced. We witnessed the loss of learning, the high levels of anxiety in our kids, the wearing of masks and our teachers running their classrooms with many challenges. In four short years, we have closed the learning gap, helped our kids return to school in a meaningful way, and our school system has been rated very highly by Niche. I plan to continue the work we have started, to ensure that we have programs that meet our commitment for academic rigor, but also to create new pathways for our kids to feel successful as learners and contributors to their schools.
Every decision the board makes shapes not only classrooms but the future of our kids. We need to ensure we base our decision on what is best for their learning and their sense of belonging to their respective schools. Wilton has always maintained a strong commitment to the schools. They are a very important asset; they are why families move here. I am committed to ensuring that excellence is a standard we maintain for all our students.
We do that by having in-depth professional development for our teachers, both in the academics and social emotional areas. We want to provide professional development to help teachers hone their skills, learn new curriculums, and foster a relationship with AI, so they are comfortable to use AI as a tool. We are all just learning the potential of what AI will bring to all of us. I want to ensure our teachers have an opportunity to study, practice and become comfortable with all aspects of AI, and find ways to use it as a tool for their own learning, as well as in their classroom.
I recognize that as a board member, the town relies on us to have a budget that is not inflation, is appropriate for our needs and is in keeping with the Board of Finance guidelines. We committed to that last year and will try to do so again. There is an established partnership between the two boards, which has made the process a much more successful exercise thanks to the leadership of both boards.
One pivotal decision the board made last year was the ban of cell phones from bell to bell in high school. The data we read was very compelling and we knew it was the right thing to do, knowing there was going to be a fair amount of pushback from the students and families. The high school administration rolled it out as carefully as possible, and at the end of the year students came to us to say it was a good idea. Other districts are now following our lead.
One of the more poignant aspects of my time on the board is being on several committees that meet during the course of a year and finding myself sitting across from students I had at the Day School. They have grown into thoughtful, smart, committed young people and are engaged in making our schools a better place for all the students. I am proud of a school system that fosters the growth of our students as they become caring and engaged adults.
I have served on the Board for four years, I would love to continue the work we have started to keep up our standards of excellence, make sure there are pathways of success for all students, to ensure their safety and wellbeing and have a strong sense of belonging to a community that cares about them. I would be honored to have your vote. Thank you.