2026 Patch Candidate Profile: Regan Allen For Stamford Board Of Education

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 3 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Regan Allen, a Democrat, is running for a seat on the Stamford Board of Education.

Candidate's Name:

Regan Allan

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

Age:

55

District:

Stamford

Party:

Democratic

Campaign website:

https://www.boedems2026.com/

Occupation:

Nonprofit leader

Family:

Married, 4 adult children

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No

Previous public office:

Chair, Stamford Appointments Commission, Stamford Democratic City Committee

Why are you seeking this office?

Stamford Public Schools has been part of my life for almost 30 years. All four of my children went through our schools. I’ve worked in them as a tutor and project manager, and for 13 years I helped parents across the district become advocates for their children through the Stamford Public Education Foundation. I’ve seen how much our schools get right: exceptional teachers, a diverse student body, and an impressive range of academic programs.

I’ve also seen where students fall through the cracks. Too often, the support a child gets depends on how loudly their family pushes. Some students wait too long for evaluations or services. Others struggle quietly. And some high achievers aren’t challenged enough to keep growing. Every child deserves to have their needs met, whether or not their family knows who to call.

I’m running to bring trust, teamwork, and transparency to the Board of Education. That means listening to students, families, and educators before decisions are made. It means partnering with our new superintendent on a shared strategic plan and making the budget a year-round public conversation. And it means following through on what we promise. Our students deserve nothing less.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is making sure every student’s needs are met, not just the needs of students whose families know how to push the system. Too often, the support a child receives depends on how loudly their family advocates. Some students wait too long for evaluations, and some IEPs and 504 plans aren’t consistently followed. Other students struggle quietly without formal services, and some high achievers aren’t challenged enough to keep growing.

Here’s what I intend to do about it. I will push for regular reporting to the Board on evaluation timelines, IEP and 504 compliance, academic interventions, and individual student growth, broken down by school so differences don’t stay hidden. When the data shows a school doing something well, we should learn from it and share it across the district. When it shows students falling behind, we should act. I will also advocate for stronger college, career, and scholarship guidance so every student gets help planning their future.

I’ve spent years teaching parents how to advocate for their children. Now I want to help build a system where no child has to depend on it.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I respect everyone who steps forward to serve our schools. What I bring is a rare combination of perspectives. I’ve seen Stamford Public Schools as a parent of four SPS graduates, as a former teacher, as a district staff member who helped facilitate strategic planning, and as a nonprofit leader who spent 13 years working with families in every corner of the district.

That experience gives me deep relationships across Stamford, with parents, educators, principals, and community organizations. Through networks like the Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance, the Prevention Council, and Cradle to Career, I’ve worked alongside the partners who support our students outside the classroom. I know who is doing effective work, and I know how to bring people together.

I also bring a facilitator’s approach. My career has been about listening, building consensus, and turning ideas into action. I’m not coming to the Board with a narrow agenda. I’m coming to listen, ask hard questions, and follow through. At a moment when we have a new superintendent and major construction underway, I believe that collaborative, experienced approach is exactly what the Board needs.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Beyond making sure every student’s needs are met, I’ll focus on several other issues.

The budget process. I’ll push to reinstate the Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee and make the budget a year-round public conversation. That way, families and taxpayers understand the priorities and tradeoffs, instead of facing a crisis every spring.

Program effectiveness. I’ll call for an audit of district programs and community partnerships, so we invest more in what works and update what no longer meets students’ needs.

Trust and collaboration. I’ll work to strengthen relationships between school buildings and central office, and to support our new superintendent as he develops a strategic plan with clear goals and measures of progress.

Student well-being. I’ll build on the district’s strong focus on mental health and support school cultures where students and staff feel safe and connected. That includes looking closely at discipline data, since Black students are disciplined at higher rates.

Facilities. I’ll provide careful oversight of the Westhill and Roxbury projects so they stay on time and on budget. I’ll also push for a simple way for school staff to report building issues before they pile up.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I ever received was: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” It has guided me through years of nonprofit leadership and community work. Waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or the perfect budget often means nothing changes at all. Progress comes from taking real steps, learning from them, and improving along the way.

When it comes to our students, though, I’d add something: good isn’t enough. Our children deserve more than good. They deserve schools that truly meet their needs, whether they’re struggling, thriving, or somewhere in between.

To me, these two ideas work together. We shouldn’t wait years to act when a solution is in front of us. When one of our schools finds something that works, we should learn from it and share it quickly. At the same time, we must keep our standards high and keep asking whether we’re doing everything we can for every student. That balance, acting with urgency while aiming high, is how I would approach my work on the Board of Education.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For 13 years at the Stamford Public Education Foundation, I led and grew the district’s parent leadership programs. I managed budgets and grants, supervised staff, and helped families across Stamford become effective advocates for their children. That work taught me how to oversee resources responsibly and how to bring community voices into decision-making.

As a project manager for Stamford Public Schools, I helped facilitate districtwide strategic planning with the superintendent, bringing parents, educators, and community partners together around a shared vision. As our new superintendent develops his strategic plan, that experience will help me be an effective partner.

As Executive Director of Starfish Connection, I led a mentoring program for first-generation, low-income students. I directed a network of more than 50 volunteer mentors and led a strategic planning process with the Board of Directors. I understand governance from both sides of the table, as a leader reporting to a board and as a board member myself.

As Chair of the City of Stamford Appointments Commission, I developed more transparent processes and broadened outreach so more residents could take part in civic life. As co-president of the Parent Teacher Council, I guided parent organizations across the district on best practices and financial management.

Together, these experiences show I can manage budgets, plan strategically, build partnerships, and listen. Those are the skills our Board of Education needs.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe deeply in public education. Stamford Public Schools gave my four children a strong start. They learned alongside classmates from every background, were inspired by dedicated teachers, and found their passions in clubs, sports, and challenging courses. Now that I’m an empty nester, I want to give back to the schools and community that have given my family so much.

I’m not running with a narrow agenda. I’m running to listen. I’ll make decisions based on what students need, and I’ll be honest about the reasons behind them. My priorities are simple: trust, teamwork, and transparency. That means listening to the people closest to our schools, working collaboratively with our new superintendent and city leaders, and keeping the public informed and involved.

Our schools have tremendous strengths, and they face real challenges. I’ll celebrate what’s working, ask hard questions about what isn’t, and follow through on my commitments. Every student in Stamford deserves to be known, supported, and prepared for the future. I would be honored to have your vote.