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Donald Harris, Jr., a long-time pillar of the Bloomfield community, has been recognized by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education with its 2022 Philip S. Fenster Distinguished Service Award for lifetime commitment to public education.
Harris, the former past president of the CABE board, has served in several significant education-leadership roles in Connecticut for more than a decade. He is the current chairman of the Bloomfield Board of Education; a former president of Capital Regional Education Council Board and is a member of the State Board of Education.
Harris has deep roots in Bloomfield and comes from a family of teachers and school administrators. He has served in a wide array of influential leadership positions in Bloomfield, including teacher, education administrator, coach, athletic director, principal and deputy mayor.
The Bloomfield High alumnus earned education degrees from Springfield College and the University of Hartford. Harris is widely recognized for championing education-equity, community and church service.
Philip Fenster was a member of the Danbury Board of Education and also served as CABE’s President. He was known for his thoughtful, committed and effective leadership.