Executive Director’s Report · 2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – September 2015 District and...

September 2015

In This IssueDistrict and School News .......2-3

Recognition and Honors .........4-5

Events and Updates.............. 6-12

Executive Director’s Report A MONTHLY UPDATE BY THE CAPITOL REGION EDUCATION COUNCIL

Executive Director’s MessageBruce E. Douglas, Ph.D.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CRECExcellenceinEducation Twitter: @CRECEducation

Attachment G A MONTHLY UPDATE BY THE CAPITOL REGION EDUCATION COUNCIL

In his new book, “The Road to Character,” David Brooks makes the convincing argument that our culture has changed from a culture of humility to a culture of the big ME.

He cites a gallop poll from 1950 which asks high school seniors if they consider themselves to be very important. In 1950, 12 percent considered themselves to be very important. By 2005, 80 percent reported being very important.

Furthermore there has been a substantial increase in the desire for fame, recognition, and/or relevance. In a 1976 survey, fame was listed 15th out of 16 life goals by high school students. By 2007, more than 50 percent listed fame and recognition as one of their top three goals.

Brooks goes on to measure life in market place metrics. The first measures he called “résumé virtues” and the second he called “eulogy virtues”. Today’s culture celebrates résumé virtues. Things like accomplishments, salary, and promotions. Whereas eulogy virtues recognize empathy, kindness, sacrifice and service, celebrate character and the differences a person makes in the lives of others.

Ironically, eulogy virtues are rarely celebrated in life, only after someone dies. But, I believe that most of you in this room have chosen service rather than fame or fortune. In my view nothing could be more rewarding than a life of service; doing something tangible to make the lives of others better. I don’t mean serving on a committee or being elected to office, talking, or going to meetings. I mean taking action, going a step further with personal intervention to change lives without the intent of improving one’s own self efficacy, earning the respect of others, or personal relevance.

I am speaking about devotion to others rather than oneself. The self-deception of our relevance is rampant and disillusioning. It leads to illusions of self-importance. Those who are virtuous without witness could not be more relevant, needed, and essential.

That is what CREC is all about, and that is why you were invited into this room. Though a career in education is not lucrative, it is much more fulfilling than any other profession save medical, religion, and public safe fields. Your life has a purpose and your office or classroom is an emergency room, for education is an emergency. At CREC you are in the business of changing lives and saving lives in ways that no others can.

-Excerpt from August 28’s FallStaff speech

AVON — Incoming freshmen at Avon High School were greeted Tuesday by dozens of upperclassmen, staff and parents in what was called a reboot of the school’s orientation for new students.Classes at all five schools in town start Wednesday and 252 freshmen are expected to show up at the high school.Although freshmen orientation is held yearly, high school Principal Christopher Tranberg said Tuesday’s program was expanded over previous efforts. Organizers carefully considered the message being sent to students, he said.“In the past, students met with

administrators, went over their schedules and met with teachers, but the orientation did not catch the spirit of ‘welcome to the next part of your young lives,’” Tranberg said.

The basic things, such as class schedules and when to eat lunch were covered, but

organizers added touches they hope will make the high school less intimidating.Those touches included a video of students who graduated last spring with words of advice to freshmen. One graduate urged freshmen to take their first year seriously because not doing that can have implications later. Another told freshmen they should make the most of their time, saying, “This is four years of your life you never get back,” while simply saying, “Be yourself, stay beautiful.”Making teachers more accessible was also a goal. Orientation was concluded with five staff members offering a dance

routine done to a medley of pop tunes.The parent-teacher organization at the high school helped organize the orientation. PTO President Susan Rietano Davey said planning started in June. She said her goal was to make the freshmen comfortable as soon as possible.“There is so much good going on in this building and we want them to feel they are in a good place,” Davey said.Davey said 85 upperclassmen volunteered to help Tuesday and many attended planning sessions for the orientation held over the summer.Nathan Stekler, a senior and president of the student government, gave a short presentation to the freshman with several other upperclassmen.“I wanted to tell them that they don’t need to feel like everything is scary,” Stekler said. “I was really nervous when I was first a freshmen and I wanted to help make that transition easier.”After the presentation in the school’s cafeteria, the freshmen were given a tour of the school.Source — The Hartford Courant article published by Ken Byron on August 25, 2015

2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – September 2015

District and School NewsAvon High School Welcomes Incoming Freshmen

The fifth grade students at Louis Toffolon Elementary School recently presented a “Buddy Bench” to the school, as a gift from the Class of 2015. The bench was built and donated by Bill Miller, father of fifth grade student Emma Miller.

The students raised the money for the planters and plaques on the bench by holding bake sales after several school events. The plaques on the bench clearly state its purpose, “Find a Friend, Be a Friend.” The students also made a

video, with the help of student support/behavior technician Ray Guarino, to educate the rest of the school about the bench, its purpose, and how to use it.Source - The Plainville Citizen article published on June 25, 2015

Take a Seat, Meet a New Buddy

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BRISTOL — When roughly 1,175 Bristol Eastern High School students started their new year of classes Thursday morning, Deputy Superintendent Sue Moreau stood alongside Principal Carly Fortin at the main entrance to offer greetings.

They both offered cheery a “Good morning” to the long stream of parents and students pouring in, but Moreau made a special point of welcoming teachers and staff workers who hurried about the building.

Greeting youngsters at the doorway is a tradition for principals of the smallest elementary schools and the biggest high schools, but Moreau and other Bristol administrators have added a tradition to “Back to School” morning: They extend a similar welcome to the faculty and staff.

“It’s important for teachers to see us — it’s a show of support,” said Moreau, who has been making the rounds on opening day for the past 12 years. She planned to tour a half-dozen or more schools through the morning, while Superintendent Ellen Solek and other senior administrators visit others.

About 8,000 youngsters from pre-kindergartners to high school seniors

started a new year of classes Thursday. The best way to ensure a warm welcome for them is to make sure the hundreds of teachers, principals, and staff know they, too, are appreciated from the opening bell, according to administrators.

“The kids don’t really know us, but I’ve been here so long I know most of the

teachers. People like to feel supported, they like that you know their name,” said Moreau, who worked as a principal in Bristol for years before becoming deputy superintendent.

The district heavily emphasizes training new teachers and coaching current staff on any skills that need work, she said. Bristol has assigned mentors to each of the 25 teachers who are new to the system this year, and provided a weeklong orientation covering student assessments, using technology in the classroom, integrating math and English language skills into all classes, handling special education issues and more.

“This is a good community. People here just want to be successful and have our kids be successful, and they’re willing to do the work that’s required to make that happen,” Moreau said.

At the annual convocation, administ-rators told about 600 teachers and principals that the theme this year is

“Vision for Success.” Fortin recalled that the group was asked how many had gone through Bristol schools themselves, and she found it moving to see more than 100 hands go up.

Fortin herself is a Bristol Eastern graduate, and was an assistant principal before landing the school’s top job. When science teachers

Sarah Orde suggested writing humorous chalk messages on the sidewalk to make students feel at ease on the first morning, Fortin was right on board with the idea.

Fortin and principals across the city have been preparing their buildings for weeks, and Thursday morning was the payoff — or the first tests of the year. Fortin and her assistants shuttled between greeting students and handling the inevitable minor problems that arise in the first hectic week.

Source – The Hartford Courant article published by Don Stacom on August 27, 2015

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – September 2015 3

Bristol Schools’ First Day: Greetings For Everyone

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Recognition and Honors

Distinguished Service Award Luis Onel Rodriguez Jr.

School: CREC Museum AcademyPosition: Family/community liaison

Number of years of experience in education: 14 years

Best tip for educators: Always remember to reinvent yourself the second time around.

Start to move away from the traditional system, and innovate yourself, students, and families.

Favorite education moment: Setting up my first preschool classroom. My lesson plans said we would

study and talk about animals and where they live, but students focused on my beard and why I was a boy teacher. They

were so intrigued that I quickly changed my plans and rearranged my room. The new focus was on genders, and we painted and played with shaving cream. My dramatic play area became a beauty/barber shop. Our classroom was driven by what the children wanted to learn and not by what I wanted them to learn. This one moment has made me who I am today. When I’m with children and families, I always take the co-pilot seat. I let them drive their questioning and research, giving them guidance and support along the way. On my summer vacation, I: Enjoyed going on day trips around the state. I like traveling to sunny places, meeting new people, and being involved as much as I can in community enjoyment planning.

Paraprofessional of the YearAmanda R. HullSchool: CREC University of Hartford Magnet School

Number of years of experience in education: Three years

My advice to fellow paraprofessionals: Have a positive outlook, and communicate

with your teamMy favorite classroom moment: Seeing the children learn and be independentOn my summer vacation, I: Enjoyed the beaches of Rhode Island

Teacher of the YearChinma UcheSchool: CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering High SchoolSubject taught: Math and computer scienceNumber of years of experience in education: 34 years Best teaching tip: Persevere in problem solving and celebrate every successFavorite teaching moment: The “aha moment” when a student realizes for the first time how something is done, or when the student uses new knowledge to complete a novel task On my summer vacation, I: Relaxed with family

Manager of the YearRyan DonlonSchool: Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School Position: Proud principal Number of years of experience in education: 13 years Best management tip: Surround yourself with highly-intelligent thinkers who have diverse skill sets and are committed to your mission. Motivate, celebrate, and continually return to the importance of the mission that connects and drives the entire team. Favorite education moment: Seeing students return to school to share stories of finding happiness through their own educational journeys. Knowing you may have played even the smallest part in their success is both rewarding and energizing. On my summer vacation, I: Spent time with family. Whether it was traveling to Disney World, swimming at the beach, or hiking to a new destination, we enjoyed exploring and laughing together.

Meet CREC’s Award Winners


Two students from the Hartford Region Open Choice Program are heading to college with the help of the Mary Carroll-Kennedy Scholarship.

Imani Vaught and Stacy-Ann Wallen, both of Hartford, have participated in the Open Choice Program for several years and were recently named recipients of the program’s annual scholarship, which was established in 2002 in honor of Mary Carroll-Kennedy, the Open Choice Program’s founding director.

Formerly known as Project Concern, the Open Choice Program has helped Greater Hartford students for nearly five decades. It allows Hartford students the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns and suburban students the opportunity to attend public schools in Hartford. The goals are to improve academic achievement; reduce racial, ethnic, and economic isolation; and provide all children with a choice of high-quality educational programs.

Through the Open Choice Program, Vaught was able to attend Avon Public Schools and graduated from Avon High School on June 16. In the fall, she will be a freshman at UConn, where she will study veterinary sciences with an equestrian concentration. Her $2,000 scholarship will help pay for her education.

Wallen, who attended West Hartford Public Schools and graduated June 15 from Hall High School, will study biology or allied health at UConn. She wants to become a neonatal nurse, and her $3,000 scholarship will help her as she pursues her dream.

Both scholarship winners were actively involved in extracurricular activities at their respective high schools and communities, while also exploring their individual interests.

Since 2002, 36 Open Choice students have benefited from the Mary Carroll-Kennedy Scholarship.

Scholarships Go to Deserving Students

CRILA Students Tackle Challenges in ColoradoIn June, Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA) participants attended a seven-day Outward Bound experience in Colorado. The trip marked the beginning of the CRILA program for students and allowed them to develop collaborative leadership skills by hiking, rock climbing, participating in ropes courses, and group problem solving. The trip also helped students bond.

CRILA is a year-long program that begins in a student’s sophomore or junior year and extends throughout the subsequent year. Each year, 30 high school sophomores and juniors throughout Greater Hartford participate, and the program is in its 12th year of operation. During that time, CRILA has provided leadership experiences and service learning opportunities to more than 360 students in the Greater Hartford area.

In addition to the Outward Bound experience, CRILA students develop and participate in a community service project that will benefit the Hartford area; earn honors high school credit; meet with successful leaders in business, education, politics, health, and the military; are challenged with rigorous discussion and coursework on becoming a great leader; and build their student resume as they prepare for college.

Students are selected to participate in CRILA from a competitive pool of applicants from throughout the Hartford region. Participants have the ability to lead, strong academic standing, should have the ability to work successfully with others, and should have an interest in and commitment to community service.

More information is available on the CRILA website, www.crec.org/crila.

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CREC held a high-energy, back-to-school event for more than 2,000 employees at the Connecticut Convention Center on August 28, building agency unity while also providing inspiration and motivation.The first day of school for CREC’s 18 magnet schools is September 2. Throughout its nearly 50-year history, CREC has held an annual back-to-school event for employees called FallStaff. It is an event coordinated and directed internally, and CREC employees participate throughout, singing the national anthem, recording voiceovers, and serving as emcees. Sponsors, including top sponsor Owens Realty Services, made this year’s FallStaff possible. This year’s FallStaff included dancing, games, giveaways, and a special tribute to CREC Executive Director Bruce E. Douglas, who will be retiring at the end of this calendar year. Special guest speakers included James Tillman, a former CREC employee and author who was wrongfully accused of a crime and exonerated, and Dennis Parker, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Racial Justice Program and an influential lawyer in the Sheff vs. O’Neill lawsuit. Both men shared inspirational words that underscored CREC’s core mission, which is to help the children and families of Greater Hartford. Students from the CREC Ana Grace

Academy of the Arts Elementary School also performed during FallStaff, and staff members who hit employment milestones this year received longevity awards. In addition, special awards were given to four deserving employees who were recognized for their hard work and dedication. CREC’s paraprofessional of the year award went to Amanda Hull, of CREC’s University of Hartford Magnet School. Chinma Uche, a math and computer science teacher at the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering, received CREC’s teacher of the year award, and Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School Principal Ryan Donlon was named manager of the year. Luis Rodriquez, a family and community liaison at CREC’s Museum Academy and one of FallStaff’s two emcees, received CREC’s distinguished service award. Also serving as a FallStaff emcee was Kristen Parker, a teacher at the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School.In his opening remarks, Douglas commended

CREC staff for showing an intense commitment to social justice, a high level of intellect, the ability to apply knowledge to their work, and substantial growth potential.“You are CREC’s greatest resource,” he said. “The women and men who work for CREC are the measure of what this organization can do. CREC employees are efficient, responsive, and dedicated to serving children, families, and educators. We seek people who find their self-worth in helping others and who take pride in their work. CREC’s mission demands it.” Douglas’ remarks aligned with this year’s FallStaff theme, “CREC Cares,” which

acknowledges the work that CREC does to help children and families in Hartford and beyond. At the event, CREC launched its new CREC Cares Fund, an employee-directed giving program that supports the needs of CREC community members who have experienced a catastrophic incident that has caused serious economic hardship.


Events and Updates

CREC Shows it Cares About its Employees at FallStaff

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Although Hartford resident Lawrence Holloway spends the school year tackling a rigorous curriculum at CREC’s Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, his passion is writing.At the recommendation of his guidance counselor, Holloway, 18 and a rising high school senior, applied to the 39th annual Center for Creative Youth, a four-week, interdisciplinary arts residency program run by CREC on the Wesleyan University campus. After submitting samples of his work, Holloway was admitted into the program and spent July studying fiction-writing technique. Holloway was one of 116 students from throughout the country who attended the Center for Creative Youth this summer. The students lived in Wesleyan’s dorms and took classes in their “majors,” or areas of interest, such as creative writing, dance, and theater. Students also participated in interdisciplinary courses that introduced them to a different art skill, such as Japanese sumi-e painting. Throughout the program, students went on field trips, attended guest lectures, and learned from performances by professional artists like the seven-member folk band Las Cafeteras. They were also trained in leadership

skills—skills that will help them invigorate the arts in their own communities.Joining Holloway as a Center for Creative Youth participant was Yvonne Wingard, a high school senior from Augusta, Georgia. Her trip to Connecticut marked her first plane ride, and it was also her first time

attending a summer program. At the Center for Creative Youth, Wingard studied photography and spent some of her time taking pictures of program events and learning how to use the dark room. Center for Creative Youth Program Coordinator Lisa Foss said she was impressed with the accomplishments made in four short weeks by the Class of 2015.“Students were bold and honest in their presentations across all art forms,” she said. “They inspired one another to embrace their

unique, artistic voices. These are our future arts leaders, and I know we are in good hands.”


High School Students Explore the Arts at Center for Creative Youth CREC Polaris

Students Assist House of Bread, Kids’ CaféStudents participating in the School to Career Program at CREC’s John J. Allison, Jr. Polaris Center were recognized earlier this month for their charitable efforts.

Students in the program have prepared and served food at the House of Bread in Hartford for nearly six years, and, on August 6, KISS FM 95.7 teamed up with CREC’s John J. Allison, Jr. Polaris Center students at House of Bread to serve food and to help the nonprofit get donations. The radio station highlighted CREC’s continued involvement with House of Bread through social media.

The House of Bread can serve up to 1,000 meals each day, and it relies on volunteerism and donations to serve the growing needs of the Hartford community.

CREC’s John J. Allison, Jr. Polaris Center is located in East Hartford and serves children and adolescents with learning disabilities and emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric problems. In addition to helping at the House of Bread, students work during the school year with Kid’s Café, an organization that provides free meals at Boys and Girls Club locations in Hartford for young people who qualify.

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Kamron Redding-Hall is 6, and, although he lives in Hartford, he is getting ready to start the second grade at an elementary school in South Windsor through the Hartford Region Open Choice Program.

Kamron says he loves math, likes to read, and has never been fond of summer.

“I don’t like summer,” he said. “You don’t learn anything.”

This summer, however, is different for Kamron. In July, he attended the Open Choice Summer Academy, a month-long academic summer program for Open Choice students going into the first through eighth grades. The program, which was held at CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School and served 177 students, helps both those who need extra support

and students, such as Kamron, who are looking to continue learning during the summer.

The Summer Academy is focused on academics, but students do participate in hands-on activities, hear from strong, local minority leaders, and go on field trips as part of the curriculum.

“The whole idea is to prepare children for

the next grade,” said Rudy Thomas, student services coordinator.

The Open Choice Program, formerly known as Project Concern, has helped Greater Hartford students for nearly five decades. It allows Hartford students the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns and suburban students the opportunity to attend public schools in Hartford. The goals of the program are to improve academic achievement; reduce racial, ethnic, and economic isolation; and provide all children with a choice of high-quality educational programs.

For Hartford’s Kiara Rondon, the Summer Academy is a chance to learn and make new friends. It is better than watching television or hanging out by the pool, said the 10 year old, who attends Canton Public Schools.

The Summer Academy is offered to Open Choice students each summer. The program is free and includes breakfast and lunch, but there is a modest application fee, and that money goes into a fund established to provide college scholarships to Open Choice students who are graduating from high school.

Open Choice Students Thrive During Summer Academy

Students Have Fun at CREC River Street Summer Program During a six-week summer program, CREC River Street School students continued to build their academic, social, communicative, cognitive, and sensory skills, and they worked to develop positive behaviors.

Without the availability of a summer program, students on the autism spectrum would risk losing crucial skills, and it would take a significant amount of time for them to regain them during the next school year.

CREC River Street School’s summer program is more relaxed than the traditional school year. This

summer, students and staff had picnics under the school’s pavilion and enjoyed a cookout complete with hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by CREC River Street School staff, including Director Tom Parvenski.

Students also enjoyed several special events that were scheduled throughout the summer, including a summer dance and a carnival. An event also featured outdoor bubble stations, which allowed students to use different equipment to make bubbles.

Events and Updates (continued)

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CREC photo: In July, the Open Choice Summer Academy worked with 177 students.

CREC photo: A CREC River Street School student makes bubbles at a special event held during the school’s summer program


The Hartford Youth Public Safety Program’s 44 participants took part in a mock car crash on August 3. In the scenario, the crash happens as a result of texting while driving.

Members of the Hartford police and fire departments led the exercise, and participants used what they learned during the five-week summer program to respond to the mock crash. They also learned about the risks of texting while driving.

The Hartford Youth Public Safety Program allows for teenagers who live in Hartford to intern with the Hartford police and fire departments. All participants become certified in CPR and First Aid, learn about areas of employment in public safety, and visit landmarks, such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum, to better understand the importance of public safety servants in the community.

Throughout the program, participants were exposed to and practice specific responsibilities of Hartford public safety workers, including emergency response, interviewing, investigations, and police and fire codes of conduct. The mock crash was the program’s culminating event and included a de-briefing where students

discussed the exercise and their level of preparedness.

Program participants were interested in working in public safety and were Hartford residents who are now in their junior or senior years of high school at either the

Hartford Public High School Law & Government Academy or the CREC Public Safety Academy in Enfield. A few recent high school graduates also participated.

The Hartford Youth Public Safety Program is part of a larger, joint effort between CREC; the Hartford Board of Education; Capital Workforce Partners; and the city of Hartford called the Hartford Public Safety Initiative. The initiative, which started in 2014, was implemented to recruit, hire, and retain more city residents for the Hartford Police Department by creating a direct pipeline for young people, and the initiative was recently recognized by the White House, which cited the initiative as the reason why Hartford was named one of 10 cities in the nation making real progress since the launch of the president’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Mock Car Crash Gives Students Hands-On Experience

With the help of CREC staff, parents, and friends, Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School participated in its first dragon boat competition at the Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival in Hartford.Although the 21-member team did not win, the team’s finishing times got better in each of the competition’s three races, and it placed second in its division.“We rocked it,” said Arati Nair, a Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School parent.

The competition served as a promotional activity for the school’s Green Leaf Committee, which works to improve the health and wellness of students and staff in an environmentally conscious way. The race also helped to create a cohesive work environment among parents and school staff.The Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival, an annual event, was held at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford.

CREC School Participates in First Dragon Boat Race

CREC photos

CREC photo: A team from Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School competes in the Riverfront Dragon Boat race in Hartford.


CREC Holds First-Ever Back-to-School Block PartyOn August 21, CREC helped hundreds of Hartford area children and families prepare for the new school year by holding a well-attended back-to-school block party.

The festivities took place at CREC Central, and CREC hosted the event with key sponsor Capital City Education Alliance (CCEA) along with Beta Sigma

Lambda Educational Foundation, Mega Education, and Bomba 97.1 FM.

During the block party, free backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to eager children. Although CREC’s supply of 650 backpacks ran out quickly, the agency kept a waiting list and is committed to giving a backpack to

every child who attended, but did not get one during the event.

“It was a great event,” said Aura Alvarado, CREC’s director of communications and community relations. “There were lots of smiling kids and happy staff. It was much needed for our community.”

Activities at the block party included free haircuts from Puerto Pelo, a local hair salon in Hartford. Cuadrado and one of her hairdressers provided 25 children with haircuts.

Other block party activities included a Zumba demonstration by Off the Wall Zumba; sand art from CREC’s Birth to Three program; a puppet show sponsored by the Hispanic Health Council; and viewing of the Hartford Police Department’s horses

and Hummer vehicle. The Hartford Fire Department brought a fire truck to the event and gave out child-size fire helmets. Children received ice cream from Ice Cream for Dream when they said what they wanted to be when they grow up, and Covenant to Care gave away cuddly stuffed animals.

In addition, families were able to

sign-up for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and obtain a library card from the Hartford Public Library. The YMCA of Greater Hartford offered trivia and prizes; Spotlight Theatres gave out free popcorn; and there were games and prizes from the Capital Area Substance Abuse Council. Representatives from the City of Hartford’s Youth and Recreation Department; Girl Scouts of Connecticut; Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters; and the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Connecticut also distributed information about local programs and services at the block party.

Book Donations Benefit Summer Reading ProgramThrough the CREC Foundation, Candlewick Publishing’s Boston office donated 30 new children’s books for the Summer Wilson Intervention Reading Program, which was held on the University of Hartford campus.

The reading program, sponsored by both CREC Technical Assistance and Brokering Services and CREC Magnet Schools, was for students attending both CREC University of Hartford Magnet School and CREC Museum Academy.


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Gary Jones spent 24 years in prison for attempted murder. When he was released last March, he turned to a local halfway house in Hartford and to Community Partners in Action. They referred him to CREC.

In an effort to turn his life around, Jones worked with the halfway house to enroll in CREC’s Transition to Employment Services program. The 15-week program helps students obtain their GED and acquire construction skills. Although Jones already had his GED, the opportunity to learn new construction skills appealed to him. Because of the program, Jones says he has a few job prospects, and he’s now registered at Three Rivers Community College.

On August 24, Jones was one of 10 adults to graduate CREC’s Transition to Employment Services program. Together, they make up the program’s first-ever graduating class, and they each received Walmart gift cards and Stanley Black and Decker toolkits along with their diplomas.

Like Jones, Abdul-Hakim Ali, of Bloomfield, committed to the CREC Transition to Employment Services program and woke up every morning for 15 weeks to get to class. Ali sought construction certifications and said that he couldn’t have made it through the program without the support of his classmates and instructors.

“All of us were together the whole way through,” he said.

For Myron Tyson, of Hartford, finishing the program was about better opportunities. Tyson said he wants a job that will allow him to better provide for his three children; he earned his GED and participated in construction skills training through the program.

“I want a career—not a job,” he said.

The program was made possible through a federal, one-time grant awarded to Community Partners in Action in partnership with Hartford Jobs Funnel and Capital Workforce Partner. CREC will continue to seek additional funding to allow for future cohorts of this successful program.

CREC Transition to Employment Services Holds Graduation Ceremony

After participating in a month-long practicum offered this summer by CREC’s Technical Assistance and Brokering Services, seven teachers from throughout Connecticut and New York became certified in level one of the Wilson Reading System.

During the practicum, each teacher received daily intensive coaching and instruction on specific phonics strategies.

Twenty-one students from CREC University of Hartford Magnet School and CREC’s Museum Academy benefited from the innovative and intensive instruction.

The Wilson Reading System is a research-based approach that uses multi-sensory methods combined with specific

phonemic awareness and phonics instruction. During the summer program, teachers showed students strategies and approaches to improve their reading decoding skills. Students also received supplemental instruction that reinforced their phonics skills in a centers-based classroom.

In addition, the summer program offered activities, such as musical phonics and gym-spelling. These activities were created by Advanced Alternate Route to Certification for Special Education Cross Endorsement candidates.

For more information on Wilson Reading Systems, reading interventions for struggling learners, or Advanced Alternate Certification for Special Education Cross Endorsement, contact Sonya Kunkel at [email protected], or 860-509-3763.

Students Make Gains While Teachers Learn New Practices

CREC photo: Gary Jones graduates the CREC Transition to Employment Services program.



With an abundance of enthusiasm, CREC’s 18 magnet schools began the 2015-2016 school year on September 2. The district serves about 8,400 students in preschool through grade 12.

CREC Students Head Back to School!

Executive Director’s Report · 2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – September 2015 District and...

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