Education Finance Fellows Class of 2018 Bios Colorado Edward Penner Senator Kevin Priola John Hess Representative Jeff Bridges Michigan Brita Darling Senator Martin Knollenberg Connecticut Representative Aaron Miller Representative John Hampton Mary Guerriero Delaware Mississippi Senator David Sokola Representative Richard Bennett Representative Debra Heffernan David Pray Alexa Scoglietti Montana Taylor Hawk Senator Mark Blasdel Idaho Representative Don Jones Senator Chuck Windor Pad McCracken Representative Wendy Horman New Jersey Illinois Liz Mahn Senator Kimberly Lightford Ohio Representative Will Davis Marcus Benjamin Kansas Utah Representative Brenda Dietrich Senator Howard Stephenson Colorado and fishing as well, and he and his family are avid skiers and snowboarders. Senator Kevin Priola Kevin attended the University of Colorado at Boulder Kevin Priola was born and raised in Adams County, where he graduated with a Business degree. While at Colorado. He attended Brighton public schools grow- CU, he joined in the Ralphie Handlers Program – the ing up, including both Regis Jesuit and Horizon High group of college students who train and tend to one of Schools. Since he was young, he has enjoyed baseball, America’s most well-loved mascots, Ralphie. Kevin was football and running. Kevin is now a big fan of hunting also active in politics at CU as a member of the College 2017 – 2018 1 Republicans. He spent much of his time hosting cau- because I was student there. But I’ve also worked with cuses and bringing awareness of political issues to his people from across the entire state, from the San Luis fellow students. Valley, the Western Slope, the Eastern Plains, and all along the Front Range. That’s why I’ll be able to build Kevin’s business background includes 15 years of busi- diverse coalitions with folks from all around the state in ness experience at Priola Greenhouses and CAP Prop- order to pass legislation that benefits our community. erty Management. He serves as vice-president and treas- urer for both businesses. He currently is President of I also have a Master's of Divinity degree from Harvard. Priola Real Estate & Investment. It's one of the most religiously diverse schools in the country with people of all faiths and none, which means Through community organizations, Kevin helps meet I know how to bring diverse groups of people together local and international needs and continues to actively around shared values—whatever the source of those support the community at the University of Colorado values. I believe absolutely in the separation of church at Boulder. In 2008, he received The Denver Chapter and state, and also in the impossibility of separating val- Buff Club’s Most Valuable Buff award for his work with ues and public policy. Values are what motivate us. Val- the university. Shortly after college, he became an active ues are why people care about political issues. We have member of Rotary International, an organization that so much in common as Coloradans, that when we take allows him to continue to give back to the community. specific policy proposals and figure out what funda- In 2010, Kevin received the Greenco Legislator of the mental values are at stake, we can often find common Year award for his work on green industry issues at the ground to come together and move our state forward. Capitol. While earning my master's degree I met my wife, In 1996, Kevin married his high school sweetheart, AnnMarie. She noticed my cowboy boots from across Michelle Osif. Michelle is a 5th grade teacher and mom the room, came over and said, “Nice boots.” Feeling to their son and three daughters. Kevin and Michelle out of place so far from home and thinking she had just love to spend time teaching their children about the insulted me, I shot back, “Look, I’m from Colorado, so great outdoors. Whenever the family gets a day off to- I can wear cowboy boots.” Without missing a beat, gether, you can usually find them hiking, camping or AnnMarie replied, “Yeah, I’m from Colorado, too, and skiing. Kevin, Michelle and their children attend Im- I like your boots.” maculate Heart of Mary Church in Northglenn. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Brita Darling Representative Jeff Bridges Brita Darling is a Senior Attorney with the Office of I grew up [in Colorado] and went to Littleton Public Legislative Legal Services for the Colorado General As- Schools K-12, graduating from Arapahoe High School. sembly. The Office of Legislative Legal Services Today, my parents still live here, and so do my aunt, (OLLS) is a nonpartisan legislative staff agency charged uncle, cousins, grandma, in-laws, and many friends old with drafting all bills and resolutions introduced in the and new. This is the place that made me the person I General Assembly. In addition to bill drafting, the am today and taught me my Colorado values of oppor- OLLS acts as general counsel for the General Assem- tunity, independence, and responsibility. bly, reviews all executive branch rulemaking, and annu- ally publishes the Colorado Revised Statutes. In her 11 I understand the concerns of our community because I sessions with the General Assembly, Brita has drafted grew up here. I know the High Line Canal because I bills in her drafting team's subject-matter areas, includ- played there as a kid. And I know our public schools 2017 – 2018 2 ing criminal justice, family law, human services, educa- with the Essential Piece Award in 2011. tion, and public benefits. Her primary drafting areas are Medicaid and education, K-12 and higher education, As chair of the Simsbury Public Safety Subcommittee, and Brita has drafted Colorado's K-12 school finance Hampton worked with police, fire and emergency per- bill for the past 3 years. sonnel on town wide emergency preparation and re- sponse. John was also a member of the Personnel Sub- Email: [email protected] committee and served as liaison to the Aging and Disa- bility Commission and the Simsbury Farms Complex Committee. Connecticut Hampton has also served on the Zoning Board of Ap- Representative John Hampton peals, the Aging & Disability Commission and is a Jus- tice of the Peace. John Kennedy Hampton was elected to the Connecti- cut General Assembly in November, 2012, representing Hampton's community involvement extends beyond the 16th Assembly District, Simsbury. Town Hall. A life-long town resident, he is active in the Tariffville Village Association, the Farmington River He serves on the Aging Committee, the Banking Com- Watershed Association and the Simsbury Main Street mittee, the Planning and Development Committee, and Partnership. as Vice Chair on the Committee on Children. He also serves as an Assistant Majority Leader. Hampton is a 1984 graduate of Northwest Catholic High School & and received a BA degree in English Prior to his election to the state legislature, Hampton from the University of Hartford in 1990. Hampton is a served on the Simsbury Board of Selectmen from 2003- former staff member of the House Democratic caucus, 2012, including five years as Deputy First Selectman. serving as Clerk of the Joint Committee on Executive & Legislative Nominations from 2000-2004. During his tenure, Hampton was a strong advocate for transparency in government, environmental steward- Representative Hampton is a non-profit strategist, ship, and support programs for senior citizens and vet- providing marketing, fundraising, and advocacy ser- erans. vices to charitable organizations. Highlights of Hampton's accomplishments include cre- Email: [email protected] ating the Clean Energy Task Force, starting the Sims- bury Volunteer Expo, partnering on the Martin Luther King in Simsbury documentary and celebration, and in- itiating the Town of Simsbury Annual Holiday Collec- Delaware tion for the Veterans Home In Rocky Hill. Senator David Sokola In 2011, Hampton convened the first-ever Simsbury Senator David P. Sokola was elected to the Delaware Senior Summit in an effort to raise the visibility of aging State Senate in 1990. He has served as the Chair of the issues and seek meaningful measures to improve the Senate Education Committee for over 20 years. Since lives of senior citizens. 2015, Senator Sokola has also served as the Chair of the Senate Bond Committee. Throughout his legislative For his work on behalf of veterans, Hampton was hon- tenure, he has been a strong advocate for improving ored by the Abigail Phelps Chapter of the National So- standards in school while closing the achievement gap, ciety Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for protecting the environment through passing tough 2017 – 2018 3 legislation that holds polluters accountable, and for special needs by sponsoring and passing the People keeping a balanced state budget. Of his many Senate First Act and the Employment First Act. Debra also led accomplishments, he is proud to have sponsored the the efforts in Delaware to ensure continuation of the graduated driver's license bill, marriage equality, Dela- Brownfields Remediation Act to clean up contaminated ware's Benefit Corporation law, and various education- and underutilized properties. Debra has also continued related bills. to focus her efforts on improving education in Dela- ware by sponsoring and passing legislation to hire Senator Sokola has served on a variety of Delaware teachers earlier and expand early childhood education. Boards, committees, commissions and task forces in- cluding: the School District Consolidation Task Force, Before being elected to the Delaware House of Repre- the Advance Educator Compensation and Careers sentatives, Debra served for over five years on the Committee, the Enrollment Preference Task Force, Brandywine School Board, including two years as board Delaware Foundation for Science, Math & Technology president. During her time on the board, the district re- Education, Truancy Task Force, HJR 4 Task Force to duced administrative costs while boosting the high examine best practice models of state assessments, and school graduation rate and including greater numbers the DEXSTA Federal Credit Union Board of Directors.