Robin Comey
Robin was born in Minnesota to the late Charles Henry III and Cathleen Janes Comey. She moved to Connecticut at the age of three. Along with her brother Charley, she was raised in East Hartford by her father, mother and stepmother, Susan Comey. Moving three times in her freshman year, she landed in Southington and graduated from Southington High School in 1985. She attended college at Southern Connecticut State University where she received a degree in Corporate Communications and met her husband, David Steinman, shortly after graduation.
Robin and Dave moved to the Short Beach section of Branford to begin their small business, Starprompt, providing teleprompting services throughout the region. They married in 1998 and later had two children, Maddie and Michael, who both attend Branford Public Schools.
Robin has held many important roles in education throughout Branford, both in schools and outside of the school-system. When her children were preschool age, she founded the Branford Artist Cooperative offering arts and literacy activities to young children. She played leadership roles on the Sliney Elementary PTA and served on the Board of Education’s Parent Advisory Committee. Comey developed 3rd Grade Market Math Mania at Big Y for five years, bringing hands-on math activities to students throughout the district. She created the Water Wonders program held on the Branford Green, educating families on stewardship of our natural resources and was extended for several years as a Sliney School PTA program. Robin was also a Branford Girl Scout leader for seven years.
Comey recognizes that education of the whole child is critical and built community support support for new playgrounds at Hammer Field and Pardee Park. She also played a key role as producer for Projects for a New Millennium, an arts/science/environmental nonprofit providing groundbreaking lightshows in the Stony Creek Quarry. She also brought Branford Luminata, a multimedia program on the façade of the Town Hall, presenting Branford’s long history for the community to enjoy.
Robin is the executive director of the Branford Early Education Collaborative, which transitioned from a grassroots community collaborative to a non-profit organization, under her leadership. In this role she is a member of numerous health, education and civic organizations, including the School Readiness Council. She is known throughout the town to champion issues impacting young children and their families.
As a parent advocate she has enacted programs and policies that support children and education. Most notably, Comey was successful in working with the Branford Board of Education, alongside other advocates, to put policy in place that outlines how schools should handle food allergies. Branford has since become a state leader in how schools address food allergies and was the model for state-wide legislation that passed in the Spring of 2018.
In November 2018, Robin ran for state-wide office and was elected as State Representative. She proudly serves the citizens of the 102nd House District, representing the majority of Branford. In Hartford, she serves on the trifecta of committee’s that impact children; Education, Public Health and Children.
Robin and Dave moved to the Short Beach section of Branford to begin their small business, Starprompt, providing teleprompting services throughout the region. They married in 1998 and later had two children, Maddie and Michael, who both attend Branford Public Schools.
Robin has held many important roles in education throughout Branford, both in schools and outside of the school-system. When her children were preschool age, she founded the Branford Artist Cooperative offering arts and literacy activities to young children. She played leadership roles on the Sliney Elementary PTA and served on the Board of Education’s Parent Advisory Committee. Comey developed 3rd Grade Market Math Mania at Big Y for five years, bringing hands-on math activities to students throughout the district. She created the Water Wonders program held on the Branford Green, educating families on stewardship of our natural resources and was extended for several years as a Sliney School PTA program. Robin was also a Branford Girl Scout leader for seven years.
Comey recognizes that education of the whole child is critical and built community support support for new playgrounds at Hammer Field and Pardee Park. She also played a key role as producer for Projects for a New Millennium, an arts/science/environmental nonprofit providing groundbreaking lightshows in the Stony Creek Quarry. She also brought Branford Luminata, a multimedia program on the façade of the Town Hall, presenting Branford’s long history for the community to enjoy.
Robin is the executive director of the Branford Early Education Collaborative, which transitioned from a grassroots community collaborative to a non-profit organization, under her leadership. In this role she is a member of numerous health, education and civic organizations, including the School Readiness Council. She is known throughout the town to champion issues impacting young children and their families.
As a parent advocate she has enacted programs and policies that support children and education. Most notably, Comey was successful in working with the Branford Board of Education, alongside other advocates, to put policy in place that outlines how schools should handle food allergies. Branford has since become a state leader in how schools address food allergies and was the model for state-wide legislation that passed in the Spring of 2018.
In November 2018, Robin ran for state-wide office and was elected as State Representative. She proudly serves the citizens of the 102nd House District, representing the majority of Branford. In Hartford, she serves on the trifecta of committee’s that impact children; Education, Public Health and Children.
Letters of Nomination
I would like to take this opportunity to offer in nomination for membership to the Branford Education Hall of Fame, Class of 2019, Robin Comey, Executive Director of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC), and recently elected Representative from Branford to the CT House of Representatives. The BECC has been in existence since 2001, supporting Branford families and children with a wide array of supports and programs which benefit the town and improve outcomes for children. Among the key purposes driving the efforts of the BECC are: the creation of an early childhood support network designed to provide assistance to parents in locating preschool programs for their early learners; the promotion of awareness of health, safety, education, and family literacy needs and opportunities, the improvement of kindergarten readiness by strengthening professional development opportunities for preschool teachers and early care providers, and empowerment of parents and community members to move the public will in the interest of Branford’s early learners.
I have known Robin since my retirement in 2011 when I joined the Board of BECC; she was also a member of the Board at that time. In the intervening years I have been pleased to watch Robin take on the Executive Directorship of the organization and to make BECC a very real force in the professional development of Branford preschool educators (both private and public), as well as in the development of programs that have a positive impact on the lives of Branford’s earliest learners. She has been instrumental over the last several years in the publication of the BECC’s Children’s Resource Guide, a compendium of information for parents covering topics like where to locate family health and educational support, dental and nutritional assistance, and how to locate playgroups and age-appropriate enrichment activities.
Robin has been a guiding force in Branford’s Week of the Young Child, a community-wide event for families and children in the month of April each year. Some of the activities that take place during that week include partnering with the Community Dining Room in their annual walk-a-thon, as well as the distribution of 800-1200 free books each year to promote literacy in young children as part of the One Town, One Book Program. Also occurring as part of this annual celebration in April is the town-wide display of preschool and playgroup art in downtown Branford businesses.
Another highly successful outreach effort managed by Robin is the Baby Bundles for New Parents program. In partnership with the Branford Exchange Club and the Blackstone Memorial Library, new parents can obtain diaper bags with important information, books, and resources in the areas of health, education, and pre-literacy.
Robin’s involvement in early childhood issues extends to advocacy on a state level and I suspect helped her to see a part to be played more formally through the pursuit of public office. Her very successful campaign for election the CT House gives ample evidence of the energy and commitment Robin has to making a difference. She now serves on House Committees that are aimed at influencing the course of education in our state.
As a former Branford superintendent of schools, former member of the Branford Board of Selectmen, Chairman of the BECC Board of Directors, and proud member of the Branford Education Hall of Fame, I am pleased and honored to nominate Robin Comey to the Branford Education Hall of Fame.
I have known Robin since my retirement in 2011 when I joined the Board of BECC; she was also a member of the Board at that time. In the intervening years I have been pleased to watch Robin take on the Executive Directorship of the organization and to make BECC a very real force in the professional development of Branford preschool educators (both private and public), as well as in the development of programs that have a positive impact on the lives of Branford’s earliest learners. She has been instrumental over the last several years in the publication of the BECC’s Children’s Resource Guide, a compendium of information for parents covering topics like where to locate family health and educational support, dental and nutritional assistance, and how to locate playgroups and age-appropriate enrichment activities.
Robin has been a guiding force in Branford’s Week of the Young Child, a community-wide event for families and children in the month of April each year. Some of the activities that take place during that week include partnering with the Community Dining Room in their annual walk-a-thon, as well as the distribution of 800-1200 free books each year to promote literacy in young children as part of the One Town, One Book Program. Also occurring as part of this annual celebration in April is the town-wide display of preschool and playgroup art in downtown Branford businesses.
Another highly successful outreach effort managed by Robin is the Baby Bundles for New Parents program. In partnership with the Branford Exchange Club and the Blackstone Memorial Library, new parents can obtain diaper bags with important information, books, and resources in the areas of health, education, and pre-literacy.
Robin’s involvement in early childhood issues extends to advocacy on a state level and I suspect helped her to see a part to be played more formally through the pursuit of public office. Her very successful campaign for election the CT House gives ample evidence of the energy and commitment Robin has to making a difference. She now serves on House Committees that are aimed at influencing the course of education in our state.
As a former Branford superintendent of schools, former member of the Branford Board of Selectmen, Chairman of the BECC Board of Directors, and proud member of the Branford Education Hall of Fame, I am pleased and honored to nominate Robin Comey to the Branford Education Hall of Fame.
I recommend Robin Comey for the Branford Education Hall of Fame. As an active board member and current Executive Director of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative, Robin has served the children and families of Branford for more than 16 years. The BECC promotes literacy and provides services, resources and connections to families and children so they are school-ready when they enter elementary school. She advocates for policy change in Hartford. Most recently, she fought and won important legislation for children with food allergies. Her body of work has now extended to a role in local government. She is a town representative while maintaining her Executive Director position at BECC. Her contributions to the children of Branford touches generations.