Jon L. Nelson
Jon L. Nelson was born on January 25, 1942, in Needham, Massachusetts and attended the local schools. He graduated in 1959 from high school where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and played trombone in the school band. Jon attended Boston University Junior College and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1964. He was trained as an automatic flight control systems technician and worked on fighter aircraft.
In 1964, Jon Married Valerie Pyrdol, a Branford native and they began to raise their family while Jon was stationed on American military bases in the States and in Okinawa. Lance was born in 1965, the twins Kyle and Aimee in 1967 and Tasha in 1969, as the family moved to Branford.
Jon enrolled in the University of New Haven and earned a Bachelor of Science Material Engineering Degree, minoring in math and science and a Master's Degree in Operational Research. Pratt & Whitney employed him in 1968 and for the next forty-one years he functioned in a variety of high level technical and supervisory positions and continues part-time as a consultant.
Jon has been involved in local activities throughout his life in Branford. He coached youth sports and was a very involved PTA president for the Eades Street School. Jon's experiences there caused him to become a founding member of Citizens for Excellence in Education and he attended Board of Education meetings to try to improve the Branford School System. Frustrated with the BOE, Jon ran in a primary to become a member. While unsuccessful the next election saw Jon win a seat on the Board which he held for eight years. His presence was immediately felt as he quickly earned the respect of Board members and the public for his thoughtful analysis of difficult situations and his untiring quest to improve public school education. The Board became less politically partisan resulting in a changed demeanor at meetings, including allowing members of the audience to participate and comment on agenda items. During Jon's tenure the Board hired two new Superintendents who fostered a new way of approaching educational issues. He encouraged the Board to make all decisions based on what was best for students within a reasonable budget. Reaching out beyond the normal class day, the Board supported and funded music, theater and drama which attracted students who were not involved in sports. It established a new K-12 curriculum with standards for each grade, increased teacher starting salaries to attract more qualified applicants and remodeled the elementary schools. This resulted in all K-4 students having physical education and music as well as access to services such as librarians, nurses, psychologists and social workers.
Jon Nelson's efforts have had a long and profound impact on learning in Branford. When the quality of Branford schools was threatened, he provided leadership that helped the town forge a reputation as a community devoted to providing a quality education for its children. He earned the respect and gratitude of his community and induction into Branford's Education Hall of Fame.
In 1964, Jon Married Valerie Pyrdol, a Branford native and they began to raise their family while Jon was stationed on American military bases in the States and in Okinawa. Lance was born in 1965, the twins Kyle and Aimee in 1967 and Tasha in 1969, as the family moved to Branford.
Jon enrolled in the University of New Haven and earned a Bachelor of Science Material Engineering Degree, minoring in math and science and a Master's Degree in Operational Research. Pratt & Whitney employed him in 1968 and for the next forty-one years he functioned in a variety of high level technical and supervisory positions and continues part-time as a consultant.
Jon has been involved in local activities throughout his life in Branford. He coached youth sports and was a very involved PTA president for the Eades Street School. Jon's experiences there caused him to become a founding member of Citizens for Excellence in Education and he attended Board of Education meetings to try to improve the Branford School System. Frustrated with the BOE, Jon ran in a primary to become a member. While unsuccessful the next election saw Jon win a seat on the Board which he held for eight years. His presence was immediately felt as he quickly earned the respect of Board members and the public for his thoughtful analysis of difficult situations and his untiring quest to improve public school education. The Board became less politically partisan resulting in a changed demeanor at meetings, including allowing members of the audience to participate and comment on agenda items. During Jon's tenure the Board hired two new Superintendents who fostered a new way of approaching educational issues. He encouraged the Board to make all decisions based on what was best for students within a reasonable budget. Reaching out beyond the normal class day, the Board supported and funded music, theater and drama which attracted students who were not involved in sports. It established a new K-12 curriculum with standards for each grade, increased teacher starting salaries to attract more qualified applicants and remodeled the elementary schools. This resulted in all K-4 students having physical education and music as well as access to services such as librarians, nurses, psychologists and social workers.
Jon Nelson's efforts have had a long and profound impact on learning in Branford. When the quality of Branford schools was threatened, he provided leadership that helped the town forge a reputation as a community devoted to providing a quality education for its children. He earned the respect and gratitude of his community and induction into Branford's Education Hall of Fame.