Committee approves Shrina Dybala as student member of State Board of Education

Shrina Dybala of Farmington was confirmed Feb. 6, 2025, as a nonvoting student member of the Connecticut State Board of Education following a public hearing in which she described her advocacy for neurodivergent students, her adaptive STEM initiatives and her role in student leadership at Farmington High School.

Dybala told the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee she launched Spire Adaptive STEM, Farmington's first program to teach computational thinking and digital skills to neurodivergent students, and expanded that work into a national pilot called Code for All Minds. "These interventions help students develop confidence and adapt to an increasingly digital world," she said during her testimony.

Her remarks highlighted practical classroom interventions and technology-driven supports for students with disabilities. Dybala described volunteer work with her school's special learning classroom, leadership in student government and involvement in statewide initiatives to broaden access to education. The nominee also noted awards and recognitions she has received for her advocacy and stated she would continue pressing for accessibility, inclusion and workforce readiness.

Committee members praised Dybala's record and asked how the State Board of Education could better support students and recruit educators. Dybala said policy attention should focus on ensuring high-quality early learning, strengthening paraprofessional training and expanding work-based pathways. She also stressed the importance of placing educators who reflect student populations in front of students to improve recruitment and retention.

Representative Concepcion, who moderated the hearing for this portion of the agenda, noted Dybala had already been serving in an acting role on the board and said the confirmation was largely a formalization of that service. The committee moved and approved the nomination; Representative Bob Godfrey made the motion and Senator Berthel seconded.

The confirmation brings another student voice to the State Board of Education at a time when the board and the legislature are focused on mental-health supports, instructional quality and equitable access to technology and dual-credit opportunities. Dybala told the committee she plans to study education policy and continue advocating for inclusive, technology-enabled learning pathways.