AGENCY GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS
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Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
80 ~ 2020
2019-2020
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE
2019-2020
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
2019-2020
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80 ~ 2020
Annual Board Update Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
CONTENTS
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ORG CHART
23,24 INFOGRAPHIC
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AGENCY GOAL 1
LEADERSHIP
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AGENCY GOAL 2
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AGENCY GOAL 3
MAP
EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS
Gary S. Mala Executive Director Michael Akana Facilities Kimberly Bush Transportation Services Larisa Carr ECHIP Administrator Andrew DePalma Technology Solutions
Vice-Chairman, Ms. Valerie May....... Pomfret Public Schools
Diane Dugas K-12 Student Services Leading & Learning Services
Secretary/Treasurer, Ms. Katherine Paulhus...................... Mansfield Public Schools
Diane Gozemba Early Childhood Initiatives
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Melanie Marcaccio Human Resources
Dr. Judy Benson Clarke*................... Regional District #8
Amy Margelony K-12 Special Education Services
Chairman, Ms. Joan Trivella.............. Woodstock Academy
Mr. Herb Arico*................................. Willington Public Schools Ms. Amy Blank* ................................ Union Public Schools Ms. Terry Cote* ................................ Eastford Public Schools Ms. Mary Ellen Donnelly*................. Hampton Public Schools Mr. Matthew Smith........................... Lebanon Public Schools Mr. Michael Morrill* ......................... Putnam Public Schools Ms. Jennifer Norman*...................... Griswold Public Schools Mr. Rod Perry*................................... Scotland Public Schools Ms. Lydia Rivera-Abrams*................ Killingly Public Schools *Executive Board Member 2. www.eastconn.org
Heather Plourde Food & Hospitality Services Teddie Sleight Marketing & Communications Rich Tariff Adult & Community Programs Joni Weglein Finance
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
2019-2020 ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
• Adult Education & High School Completion • Community Education • Employment & Training Programs • English Learner Services • Parent & Family Programs 19
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Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
2019-2020 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Schools & Communities
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EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES
Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020 • Birth to Three General Program
80 ~ 2020
EASTCONN EXECUTIVE BOARD
• Early Childhood Coaching & Consultation • Early Childhood Materials & Products • Head Start/Early Head Start • Programs for Young Children & Families • School Readiness Support to Districts & Region • Development & Coordination of Statewide PD Services
K-12 STUDENT SERVICES
• Academic Enrichment Programs • Clinical Day Treatment Programs • Magnet & Alternative High Schools • Programs for Students with Developmental Disabilities • Psychological & Behavioral Consultation Services • Related Services (AT, OT, PT, SLP) • School-to-Career Programs • Schools for Non-Traditional Learners • Summer, Vacation & After-School Programs • Transportation
LEADING & LEARNING SERVICES
• Center for Educational Leadership • Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment • Professional Learning • Regional EASTCONN Groups & Councils • School Improvement Strategies
EASTCONN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES • Business Office & Employer Services • Conference Services • Cooperative Purchasing • Facilities Services • Finance Office Support • Food & Hospitality Services • Human Resources & Staffing Solutions • Marketing & Communication & Website • Research, Development & Innovation • Security & Investigations • Transportation Services
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
• Data Solutions, Support & Training • Educational Technology Integration • Student Information Systems Support & Training • Technology Infrastructure Support • Technology Products & Services • Video Production Services • Web Application Development
www.eastconn.org 3.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 1
The LEAP School’s personalized, competency-based program of study helps over-age, under-credited students integrate academics with personal career interests, while pursuing their high school diploma.
AGENCY GOAL 1
To provide exemplary programs and services for learners, especially those with significant barriers, so each can achieve individual success. 4. www.eastconn.org
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 1
Our Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of youngsters, ages 3-5, through the provision of supports that focus on necessities like health, education and family relationships that help ensure great student outcomes.
2019-2020 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Young Children & Their Families Birth to Three
In spite of the pandemic crisis that forced staff in mid-March to start employing new, remotecommunication platforms and strategies, Birth to Three continued throughout the school year to serve a record number of children and families, up 14% across 32 towns in the EASTCONN region. The pre-pandemic, monthly, program-wide caseload averaged 230 children and families, with 400+ children and families receiving services in the last year. Staff provided intensive services for children with significant diagnosed needs, like medical complications or conditions such as autism and Down Syndrome. Among infants and toddlers with Individual Family Service Plans, 74% demonstrated improved positive social-emotional skills; 89% of families reported staff helped them effectively communicate their child’s needs; and 96% reported staff had helped their child develop and learn.
Head Start & Early Head Start
Our federally funded Head Start (215 children) and Early Head Start (183 children) child development programs served 398 income-eligible children and their families this year. And we continued providing
services through a variety of new, personalized, remote-delivery strategies after our COVID-19 site closures. Prior to the closures, we delivered comprehensive services, including health, nutrition education, dental, mental health and family support at 9 sites in Tolland and Windham counties. This year, 19% of children enrolled in our Head Start program had an IEP. Preliminary child-outcome analyses showed that 85% of our Head Start children will meet school readiness gauges. Head Start continued to see an increase in children who have experienced trauma. Staff received trauma-informed training and coaching in order to better serve families, and the children in their care.
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Children were enrolled in EASTCONN’s Early Head Start & Head Start programs www.eastconn.org 5.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 1
The ACT magnet high school’s popular dance program gives students a chance to perform multiple times throughout the school year.
School-Age Children & Their Families
Schools of Choice & COVID-19 Response
EASTCONN operates 2 regional, NEASC-accredited magnet high schools and 1 alternative high school for grades 9-12 in collaboration with member public school districts in our region. As a result of COVID19-related school closings, staff turned to new, secure, online learning platforms to provide virtual classes, while our technology experts delivered EASTCONN laptops, WiFi “hot spots” and technical support. Supports for students’ and families’ socialemotional well-being were also provided, to ensure that students could continue their educational journey, despite COVID-19 challenges, schooling from home, and stresses associated with increased isolation. Of note this year:
• Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) Magnet High School: ACT enrolled 150
full-time students from 32 sending districts in its interdisciplinary and arts-infused academic
4. www.eastconn.org 6.
program. ACT will graduate its 10th class this year, with 33 seniors representing 15 school districts; 60% of seniors have applied to college. Among student awards and recognitions in 2019-2020: 9 students were inducted into the ACT chapter of the National Honor Society; Creative Writing students won 1 Gold and 2 Honorable Mention awards in the New England Regional contest for the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a prestigious national program. A/V students produced new training videos for the Connecticut DMV. A/V students also won top honors in the annual Connecticut DMV Teen Safe Driving Video contest; student videos have won multiple awards since the contest began in 2007.
• Quinebaug Middle College (QMC) Magnet High School: 179 students from 18 towns enrolled in QMC’s humanities-rich and STEMintegrated program on the campus of QVCC. Designed for non-traditional students, QMC students can earn free, transferable college
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 credits at QVCC and UConn, while attending high school. In 2019-2020, 75 students took 102 classes at QVCC with a passing rate of 95%. QMC students outperformed QVCC students with a cumulative GPA average of 3.14. Fiftytwo (52) students enrolled in our UConn Early College Experience (ECE) courses, earning a total of 156 credits. And 89% of QMC’s seniors have applied to post-secondary colleges and programs. Five (5) QMC students won awards in QVCC’s annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Contest.
• The LEAP School: The LEAP School enrolled
13 students from 2 districts in its first year. LEAP (Learners Empowered to Achieve their Potential) is an alternative high school for non-traditional learners who are over-age and under-credited, relative to their graduation requirements. Intended for students who have completed at least one year of high school, and who demonstrate a commitment to earning their diploma, LEAP offers a personalized, studentcentered learning environment that focuses on academics, skills-building, community service, paid internships and career readiness.
Transportation Services
Prior to COVID-19 school closures, we transported on a daily basis 524 special needs students and 770 regular education students from 40 districts, using our cost-saving, outplacement destinations database. We helped districts and other public agencies reduce barriers for special needs individuals who attended their programs, using a fleet of 130 vehicles, among them wheelchairaccessible buses and vans. Note: We transported 187 students daily to the region’s 3 public magnet schools, including EASTCONN’s ACT and QMC, and Windham’s STEM middle school. Also provided transportation to Head Start children in Putnam, Killingly and Plainfield. Over the course of a year, our 130-vehicle fleet traveled to 118 different sites in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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AGENCY GOAL 1
Students from 28 sending districts attended our 2 Clinical Day Treatment programs
EASTCONN FOUNDATION
EASTCONN’s fledgling Foundation obtained its 501(c)(3) designation this year, as it began the process of establishing itself as the agency’s new fund-raising arm. The Foundation was created to support students and educational initiatives in EASTCONN’s magnet high schools and special education programs.
Regional Programs for Students with Special Education Needs Even in the face of COVID-19 school closures in March, which necessitated turning to new, online platforms to deliver virtual classes and other key supports to students, our K-12 Special Education group continued to offer a continuum of regional programs and services for students with a wide range of challenging academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs. Staff also continued working to build district capacity toward the ultimate shared goal of least-restrictive environments and returning students to their hometown schools. Of note:
• Clinical Day Treatment (CDT): 2 regional
programs served 120 students, ages 5-19, from 28 different sending districts, with significant social, emotional and behavioral challenges, providing highly individualized and structured academic instruction and clinical support. This year, nearly 15% of our students returned to less restrictive settings in their home districts. A total of 54 CDT students participated in our 2019 summer, extended-school-year program. We anticipate 5 seniors will graduate in June 2020.
“From knowing no English, I can now write and speak in English. While I still have a lot to learn, I am learning new things every day thanks to EASTCONN and the wonderful teachers.” – Raquel Estrada, Adult ESL Student www.eastconn.org 7.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 1
Our Technology and Assistive Technology teams are partnering to develop new communication solutions for special needs students.
• Regional Autism Programming: Our
inclusion-driven Autism Program provided comprehensive, center-based educational and behavioral services to 17 students from 11 districts, pre-COVID-19. The enrollment agerange also expanded to include high school students who have aged-up since enrolling. The multidisciplinary, wrap-around model followed best practices. Staff continued to develop new community-based experiences that support students’ individual needs and goals; they will be available again when schools reopen, post-COVID-19. Pre-pandemic, our Autism Program and Psychological and Behavioral Consultation (PBC) staff provided in-person, in-district coaching, while post-pandemic, PBC professionals offered free, virtual coaching for paraeducators, accessed by thousands of professionals across the region and state.
• Related Services Group (RSG): Both in-
person, pre-COVID-19, and virtually, using a variety of communication options and platforms, Related Services staff worked with 46 districts and with 7 EASTCONN programs to support
students, preschool to age 21. Related Services includes professionals in occupational therapy (providing services to 197 students), physical therapy (providing services to 188 students) and speech-language therapy (providing services to 194 students).
• Assistive Technology (AT): AT provided
services to 138 students from 17 districts, as well as 6 adult clients through the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services (BRS) Home-to-Work Program and 20 students from 3 school districts, 3 educators and 2 family members through BRS’s Level-Up program for transition-age students.
• Psychological & Behavioral Consultation Services (PBC): Our neuropsychological
assessment, behavioral consultation and professional development services were accessed by 21 districts, benefiting 3,000+ students. Neuropsychological assessment and consultation services have continued to develop in response to requests from LEAs across our region with more than 50 assessments completed for each of the last 3 years. Staff also provided comprehensive in-district supports
“You might say you were just doing your job, but it was so much more than that. I don’t know of another school, public or private, that would have prompted, rewarded, nudged, encouraged and incentivized D. as EVC has. We are forever grateful.” – EVC Parent 8. www.eastconn.org
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 for students with autism spectrum disorders, and delivered 40+ PD sessions in 15 districts for a variety of special education staff. PBC professionals presented outcomes from technical assistance, coaching and training at regional and national conferences as invited speakers. Members of PBC continued to publish findings in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.
• Regional Transition Services (RTS) for Young Adults: Located on the campus of
QMC/QVCC, the RTS program served 10 young adults, ages 18-21, with a broad range of disabilities, from 7 districts. RTS services offered socially appropriate settings, college supports and hands-on work experience with age-related peers. Four (4) students are expected to exit in June to seek independent employment.
• Woodstock Academy Cooperative:
The collaborative program between Woodstock Academy and EASTCONN provided services to facilitate student growth in education, as well as transition planning for 4 districts’ 10 highschool-age students with intellectual, and other significant developmental disabilities.
AGENCY GOAL 1
Regional After-School & Enrichment Programs
Community Arts Connection After-School Program
Our professional staff led this after-school literacy, tutoring and arts program for more than 50 students in a small-city public housing complex, where they enjoyed weekly arts-themed programming; read books written by visiting authors; participated in a wide variety of arts projects; received academic support; and took field trips with their families.
Interdistrict Grant Program • Among just a total of 15 CSDE Interdistrict Grants awarded statewide, EASTCONN won 4 grants, which funded enriching, interactive student programs, such as “America’s Mosaic,” “Forensic Detectives,” “Farming Our Land and Sea” and “Mindful Transformations.” A total of 1,217 students participated, representing grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, from Brooklyn, Hartford, Plainfield, Putnam, Andover, Killingly, Griswold, Ashford, Hebron and Windham. Interdistrict programs are intended to improve students’ understanding and appreciation of diversity and increase their academic success.
Collaborating with area school districts, our CSDE-funded Interdistrict Grant programs are designed to boost students’ academic skills, help them build new, cross-region relationships with peers, and increase their understanding and appreciation of diversity.
www.eastconn.org 9.
AGENCY GOAL 1
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
Our English-as-a-Second-Language program helps older students gain valuable communication skills that can lead to better job prospects.
Regional Education, Employment & Training Programs for In-School & Out-Of-School Youth COOL Directions Program for In-School Youth
EASTCONN collaborated with New London Youth Affairs and Norwich Human Services to provide 50 youth from 9 high schools, throughout their junior and senior years, with a continuum of services, including assistance with post-high-school education and finding employment. Funded by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), the program also offered services to youths for 1 year following graduation. As a result, 45 graduated from high school or received their GED; and 1 year after high school, 84% of exited youth were employed, enrolled in the military, or attending a post-secondary school.
2019 Summer Youth Employment Program
Our EWIB-funded regional employment and training programs for 475 youth, ages 14-21, involved numerous partners, including New London Youth Affairs and Norwich Human Services. Additional funding came from local foundations, as well as state and federal grants. Of note: 94% of in-school youth returned to high school, obtained jobs or enrolled in post-secondary school after completing the program.
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Adult Learners & Their Families
Pre-COVID-19, Adult and Community Programs served 2,651 adults, including 652 who attended free classes in high school credentialing, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL), American Citizenship, life/basic skills instruction and employment/college transition support. Our adult Community Education classes and worksites served 69 adults.
American Citizenship Preparation
Among participants who aren’t yet U.S. citizens, English Learners (ELs) benefited from classes that included preparation for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service test.
High School Credential
Altogether, 404 adults sought their free high school diploma through one of EASTCONN’s 3 high school credentialing options, which are designed to match students’ unique needs, life experiences and educational goals. Across all 3 programs and prior to COVID-19, 88 adults were on track to graduate in June 2020. Post-COVID-19 closures, fewer students participated in online classes, due to a variety of factors; 48 were expected to graduate in June.
English Learners (EL)
The English Learner population continued to increase across our region; 248 students took our English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, and 75% of EL students improved their English reading and listening skills.
AGENCY GOAL 1
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 Multi-Generational Learning Initiative
Pre-COVID-19, this family-centered model enabled dozens of parents and their children to access essential educational services, while parents also developed work-readiness skills. Essentials like child care, transportation and high school credentialing classes were offered, as well as English Learner classes and Spanish-language GED courses. Child care and other resources were managed by Head Start, Early Head Start, Family Resource Centers, Windham Public Schools, member districts and UConn.
Windham Parent Partnership
A multi-generation, evening ESL program, funded by a Program Enhancement Project (PEP) grant and Windham Head Start, enabled us to offer instruction to 16 English Learner adult students in need of child care. While parents increased their English skills, their children received high-quality care, supervised by Head Start staff and ECSU volunteers.
Employment & Vocational Training EASTCONN continued to be the largest provider of employment and training programs for economically disadvantaged adults in northeastern Connecticut through the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB). Pre-COVID-19, EASTCONN’s American Job Center (AJC) services enabled 205 unemployed and under-employed, economically disadvantaged adults to obtain the educational and vocational skills and credentials needed to access further training and/or get better-paying jobs. Through AJC services, 330 individuals were able to find jobs, pre-COVID-19.
Program Enhancement Project (PEP) Grants
The CSDE awarded EASTCONN 7 competitive PEP grants, totaling $253,000. Through partnerships with EWIB, QVCC, school districts, Family Resource Centers, libraries, and other non-profit and social services agencies, these funds provided specialized services to 160+ adults. Pre-COVID highlights:
• Transition to Post-Secondary Opportunities: 5 students enrolled in a Credit Diploma Program (CDP) class held on the ECSU campus, which smoothed their transition from Adult Education to community college.
• Integrated Education & Training: 7 students received vocational training and were earning their GEDs, as well as a nationally recognized manufacturing certificate, through this manufacturing academy.
Workforce Development Basic Skills Education
With federal funding through EWIB, EASTCONN provided basic skills education to help adult job-seekers develop new work skills and find new career paths. Highlights:
• Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG): 134 adults received person-centered
case management, support services and job development through HPOG. Also offered was access to a Health Career Pipeline that provided a soft-career-skills workshop.
• Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI):
19 adults attended basic skills boot camps in preparation for the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative.
EASTCONN Customer Service Academy
Walmart awarded EASTCONN Adult & Community Education programs a $477,595 grant to serve 150 adults who needed short-term career training and basic reading skills. By mid-March 2020, the Academy had completed 8 basic classes, 1 reading boot camp, and 1 advanced class. Thirty-nine (39) clients had earned their Customer Service credential, 2 had earned the advanced credential. Before COVID-19 site closures, Customer Service classes ran at 3 high schools for seniors without plans for college or military; 17 clients had paid internships and 4 were hired full-time; 9 received work clothing; 11 got free transportation; and 3 received free child care.
“The most valuable part of my experience at EASTCONN has been learning to be determined and not letting bumps slow me down.” – Margaret Williams, Adult GED Student www.eastconn.org www.eastconn.org12. 5.
AGENCY GOAL 2
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
Collaboration and cooperation are key elements in any successful classroom situation, and the same applies for educators, who strive to improve their practice and provide the best possible learning environments for students.
AGENCY GOAL 2
To engage in strategic collaborations that result in positive outcomes for learners.
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AGENCY GOAL 2
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
EASTCONN’s many regional partnerships with schools and communities result in amplified learning options for students of all ages.
2019-2020 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Member District Partnerships & Collaborations
Advocacy for Equitable State Funding
As it has done for decades, EASTCONN continued to host URSA/NASA, a council of superintendents, who represent EASTCONN-region school districts. Superintendents meet monthly at the agency’s Hampton offices to collaborate, share resources and plan for the future. With EASTCONN’s assistance, an ongoing council goal is to advocate in Hartford for more equitable state funding for northeastern Connecticut schools, and to demonstrate the many long-standing, cross-district collaborations and partnerships that already exist to save money. An EASTCONN-hosted, annual Legislative Breakfast brings state legislators to URSA/NASA meetings, where they share updates about education-funding and legislation, and superintendents share their school districts’ successes, challenges and concerns.
Cooperative Purchasing
While all 36 of our EASTCONN-member districts have access to EASTCONN’s regional cooperative purchasing program, it is a partnership that’s also open to other non-profit organizations and municipalities statewide. This year, more than 120 schools and non-profits collectively spent millions of dollars on a range of discounted products, including copiers, fuel, technology equipment, food, custodial, cafeteria and office supplies. The cooperative’s use of reverse auctioning has also continued to grow. Districts, in particular, can use the savings they’ve realized from cooperative purchasing to support their students, and classroom needs.
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Non-profits & schools realized savings by using our Cooperative Purchasing program
“Thank you for working with Windham Public Schools to establish a credit recovery program for [our] high school students. The partnership significantly [improved our] student achievement.” – Randall D. Conway, Director of School Counseling, Windham Public Schools www.eastconn.org 14.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 Eastern Connecticut Health Insurance Program (ECHIP)
This regional health insurance collaborative of 4 municipalities, 4 school districts and EASTCONN is entering its 8th year of partnership, producing an average savings of 5% for members each year. Working together, and with a common insurance carrier, ECHIP’s 9 northeastern Connecticut members have been able to cost-effectively navigate the healthcare and pharmaceutical rating systems, to save resources.
COVID-19 & Emergency Student Meals
In collaboration with state and local school districts, EASTCONN Food Services group responded quickly to COVID-19 school closures by providing over 100,000 free emergency meals to hundreds of northeastern Connecticut’s low-income children and families, from March through June. Without access to these free meals, many children would otherwise go hungry. Food Services staff also provided noquestions-asked meals to siblings and families who needed them, and delivered meals to the homes of children who were quarantined or whose families lacked transportation.
Regional Fingerprinting
Human Resources’ fingerprinting services at our Hampton offices served more than 1,000 jobseekers this year, including applicants for district jobs, candidates in university-based teacher preparation programs and those seeking private employment.
Back Office Support
The agency’s Business Office continued to offer business-office staffing and support for school districts. This year, staff provided several member districts with budget management, accounts payable and payroll functions, resulting in improved fiscal oversight and savings for districts.
AGENCY GOAL 2 Shared Staffing & Consulting Services
Human Resources provided specialized consulting services to 3 districts in the areas of training and related technical assistance. Also provided 40 alternative staffing solutions for 2 member districts.
Information Technology (IT) Support for Member Districts & Municipalities
Pre-COVID-19, regular, on-site technology support was provided to 7 school districts and municipalities offering a range of expertise that would be difficult to find in a single, full-time IT person. We delivered added value for member districts whose IT staff needed additional, specialized skills.
Truancy & Residency Services
Prior to COVID-19, we provided 11 districts and EASTCONN’s 2 magnet schools with truancy and residency services.
Adult Education Consortium
EASTCONN’s 21-town, northeastern Connecticut Adult Education Consortium continued to offer residents a wide range of free, basic, adult education services, ensuring that Consortium members could collectively afford to provide mandated education programs that would otherwise be too costly. This year, EASTCONN served 2,651 individuals in programs throughout the region, including 404 in our high school credential programs and 248 in our ESL classes, 45 of whom participated in our community-partnership classes. Across our region, and in collaboration with 200 local businesses, we also served 80 In-School Youth, and 90 Out-of-School Youth with educational and work opportunities, as well as job-skills training. Locations for all Adult Programs ranged from high schools, community centers and online platforms to our regional Community Learning Centers, which are co-located in partnership with EWIB’s American Job Centers in Danielson and Willimantic.
“ECHIP is one of the few programs of its kind statewide and is an excellent example of successful, regional cooperation that reduces costs and maintains appropriate levels of health benefits for its members.” – ECHIP Chairman Walter Willett; Tolland Superintendent of Schools 4. www.eastconn.org 15. www.eastconn.org
AGENCY GOAL 2
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
EASTCONN’s Food Services group provides nutritious, often free and reduced-cost meals for hundreds of students across the region.
School Readiness
Early Childhood staff acted as School Readiness liaisons and monitors in a dozen northeastern Connecticut towns this year, working with School Readiness Councils to help communities meet Connecticut’s School Readiness Grant requirements, standards and deadlines. Virtual meetings continued throughout COVID-19 closures.
Collaborative Clinical Day Treatment (CDT) In partnership with member districts across the EASTCONN region, we continued to build our district-based, regional Clinical Day Treatment programs to accommodate the needs of 120 K-12 students with significant social, emotional and behavioral issues from 28 sending districts. By locating our CDT programs in the western (Danielson) and eastern (Columbia) tiers of the EASTCONN region, we made it easier for students to join their non-disabled hometown peers in activities and community events. Google Classrooms, tailored curricula and responsive, socialemotional approaches were deployed to continue students’ educational progress during the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures.
Woodstock Academy Cooperative
EASTCONN collaborated with Woodstock Academy to provide services that facilitated student growth in educational areas and transition planning for 13 high-school-age students from 4 districts who have intellectual and other significant developmental disabilities. Students participated in regular education and unified courses, intended to increase their independent living skills and provide career and vocational experience.
Regional Consortia
EASTCONN’s Leading & Learning group continued to facilitate regional consortia, providing member districts with access to funding and resources that they would not otherwise be eligible to receive. Among them:
• Perkins Consortium: 6 districts gained access to $72,000 in federal funds, as we helped educators define goals for their Continuous Improvement Plans to strengthen their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
• Title III Consortium for English Learners: 24 districts participated in our regional Consortium, providing $42,000 in extra resources and PD to teachers of English Learners.
www.eastconn.org 16.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 2
EASTCONN provides year-round opportunities for meaningful professional learning and collaboration across multiple disciplines.
Regional Community Collaborations Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB)
Collaborated with EWIB in the design and delivery of programs for both youth and adults who were economically disadvantaged and in need of vocational training and/or employment. Regionally, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program (Adult/Dislocated Worker, In-School Youth, and Out-of-School Youth) served 1,241 people; 330 have found jobs. EASTCONN also served Jobs First Employment Services (JFES) customers, referred from the Department of Social Services, and helped 156 JFES-program adults build valuable employability skills. Specialized Human Services Navigators referred 450 adult job-seekers to community programs, 34 of them through Ticket to Work, a provision of the Social Security Administration. Services for participants continued across various modes of remote communication throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Summer Youth Employment Program
During summer 2019, our EWIB-funded, regional employment and training program for 475 youth involved numerous partners, including New London Youth Affairs and Norwich Human Services. Of note: 90% of the participants achieved an attendance rate of 80% or better; and 94% of youth participants returned to high school.
Community-Based Clinical Day Treatment Work-Readiness Partnerships
Clinical Day Treatment (CDT) students, ages 14 and older, participated in internships and vocational opportunities that built their work skills, and earned them high school credit; 50 students engaged in paid, community-based internships, prior to the COVID-19 closures; dozens continued internships remotely, during the closures. We maintained relationships with more than 40 local and national employers, including Subway, Walmart, Carelot Children’s Center, Petco, Bousquet’s Appliances, WAIM, Windham Senior Center, Dunkin’ Donuts and Bowes Tires, where students can continue their in-person internships, in a post-pandemic world.
“In my 23 years operating a local business, I feel that the kids in EASTCONN’s program are much better prepared to start a new first job experience than other kids we have hired.” – Ann Monteiro, Summer Youth Employment Program Partner, Putnam 4. www.eastconn.org 17. www.eastconn.org
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 Advocating for Regional Mental Health Services
In order to advocate for resources and raise awareness about the shortage of mental health providers and services in northeastern Connecticut, EASTCONN staff continued to participate in North East Connecticut Advocating for Resources (N.E.A.R.), a regional collaboration of families, schools, municipalities, state agencies and health and human services providers.
Funding for Regional Non-Profits
EASTCONN’s Adult Programs continued its collaboration with the Non-profit Alliance of Northeastern Connecticut (NANC), advocating for funding from state legislators and regional organizations, to support Willimantic-based social services, non-profits and public agencies, including EASTCONN.
Community Education Programs
Adult Programs enrolled 69 EASTCONN-region adult residents who participated in our Adult Community Education certificate classes and worksite education and training programs.
Family Support & Education Social-Emotional Health
The Connecticut Head Start Collaboration Office funded our State Head Start grant proposal to offer “Mind in the Making” trainings to Head Start staff, as well as Head Start families. Trainings focused on the Seven Essential Life Skills connected with Executive Function, so that children and families can realize better outcomes.
100K+
Emergency meals were prepared & served during COVID-19 to children & families who would otherwise have gone hungry
AGENCY GOAL 2 Windham Multi-Generational Learning Initiative
Partnerships through this family-centered model enabled parents of young children to develop work-readiness skills, while accessing essential services like education credentialing classes and transportation. Working together with Head Start, Early Head Start, Family Resource Centers, Windham Public Schools, other member districts and UConn, our Adult Programs group provided multi-generational, regional programming with GED, Spanish GED, and/or ESL instruction for parents, as well as critical access to free child care.
Community Arts Connection After-School Program
This popular EASTCONN after-school program provided literacy and arts programming to 50 students in grades K-8, at Windham Heights, a public housing complex. In collaboration with VESTA, EASTCONN partnered with UConn and ECSU student-volunteer tutors, who helped youngsters do homework and improve their academic skills. Families joined their children for field trips to enriching arts destinations, while an ongoing partnership with Willimantic Public Library ensured that a Windham Heights satellite library continued to serve the program’s students and their families.
Early Childhood Roundtable
Early Childhood staff continued to facilitate Roundtable meetings for EASTCONN-region administrators of public-school preschools to keep them informed about state and national policies, best practices and professional learning options for program staff.
Regional Early Childhood Planning
In collaboration with 6 member districts, our Early Childhood staff served on the Northeast Early Childhood Council Leadership Team, supported the Regional School Readiness Council and met regularly with Family Resource Centers, providing a regional approach to setting goals for improving transition to kindergarten; improving overall preschool experiences in our communities; closing the preparation gap for birth to age three; continuing to provide opportunities to attend the Mental Health
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ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 2
The Teacher Education And Mentoring (TEAM) program provides new teachers statewide with invaluable mentoring and classroom support.
Task Force meetings; advocating for equitable access to preschool; and providing professional development for faculty, staff and families.
RESC & RESC Alliance Partnerships
Study with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC)
In partnership with the state’s RESC Alliance, EASTCONN brought its strong case for more equitable education funding and increased statewide RESC/CSDE collaboration to discussions with the governor’s office and the CSDE. As a result, following the COVID-19 outbreak and school closings, the RESC Alliance was invited by the CSDE to partner in the design and delivery of virtual professional learning for educators across the state. RESC Alliance education specialists designed and delivered free, virtual, professional learning across a range of fields, including early childhood, teaching and learning, special education, and more. Access to these state-sanctioned and supported, high-quality RESC Alliance webinars was delivered on the RESC Alliance website at rescalliance.org. EASTCONN and its Alliance partners were also asked by the CSDE, on behalf of the governor, to facilitate weekly meetings with regional education leaders to gather recommendations for safely reopening the state after COVID-19. Reports from these regional meetings were shared with the CSDE and the governor’s office.
EASTCONN Early Head Start (EHS) continued its participation in CCMC’s Bridging the Gap project, providing autism screenings for EHS preschoolers, which will likely lead to earlier referrals for Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT) evaluations. A growing number of children on the autism spectrum are entering Head Start programs, and early screenings and referrals have become a necessity.
Regional Magnet School Transportation
EASTCONN’s Transportation group collaborated with 36 district partners to transport 187 students daily to the region’s 3 public magnet schools, including EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT), Quinebaug Middle College (QMC), and Windham’s middle school STEM Academy.
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COVID-19 Response to Support District Professionals
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 Connecticut Documentation & Observations Teaching System (CT DOTS)
EASTCONN’s Early Childhood Initiatives staff and their RESC Alliance colleagues worked with the state Office of Early Childhood to provide training and technical assistance to participants statewide, using the CT DOTS platform. CT DOTS provides online tools that help early-care and early-education providers monitor and document children’s progress across criteria defined by the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CTELDS).
Early Childhood Quality Improvement Grants
EASTCONN will use the funding from Quality Improvement Grants to collaborate with RESC Alliance early childhood partners in the following areas:
• Connecticut Core Knowledge and Competency (CKC ) Framework Support • Fiscal Management Training • National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation Support • Quality Assurance and Technical Provider Support • Standards, Curriculum and Assessment Support • Trauma and Insecure Housing Training Support
Nutrition & Physical Activity Initiative
RESC Alliance early childhood partners are collaborating on Go NAPSACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care) and PALS (Physical Activity Learning Session), funded through a contract with the state Department of Health (DOH) to emphasize nutrition and increase physical activity in early childhood programs. Alliance early childhood staff also provided the DOH with technical assistance on nutrition and exercise, for up to 45 programs statewide.
Special Education Professional Learning
On behalf of the CSDE, the RESC Alliance continued partnering to provide professional learning for early childhood special education programs, statewide.
Accreditation Quality Improvement System (AQIS)
EASTCONN’s Early Childhood Initiatives holds the RESC Alliance grant for providing “intensive
200
AGENCY GOAL 2
NE CT businesses partnered with our youth employment programs to provide job experiences
supports” to 23 programs seeking accreditation or re-accreditation through AQIS. Each RESC provided training, self-study, portfolio supports and on-site supports to programs pursuing accreditation from NAEYC. In addition, facilitators developed a series for study-group discussions, based on the NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items; 159 participants took part.
Teacher Education And Mentoring (TEAM) Collaborative
We continued to manage the EASTCONN-designed online platform for the TEAM Collaborative, currently being used by 2,761 beginning teachers, 2,500 Mentors, 2,240 Reviewers and District Facilitators across Connecticut. After state funding for TEAM activities was eliminated in fall 2018, EASTCONN led a statewide initiative with the RESC Alliance that allowed 196 districts/schools to enroll in TEAM’s interactive induction, support and retention program for new teachers.
Virtual High School (VHS)
Coordinated the delivery of online VHS courses to 2 participating districts, providing their students with access to more than 200 semester-long and full-year online courses, in addition to AP courses and labs, of particular value during the COVID-19 end-ofschool-year closures.
Foundational Skills for Evaluators of Teachers
EASTCONN collaborated with RESC Alliance partners to deliver focused PD to school administrators, and continued to use and refine our online platform. This year, it accommodated more than 115 registrants statewide, providing scoring and feedback for participants. All components of the teacher evaluation guidelines were addressed and more than 90% of participants demonstrated proficiency in conducting observations.
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ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 2
A unique partnership with Woodstock Academy enables EASTCONN students with intellectual and other disabilities to attend regular education and unified classes and to increase their independent living and vocational skills.
Minority Teacher Recruitment (MTR)
Through a partnership with the CSDE and the RESC Alliance, EASTCONN joined its sister RESCs in their efforts to improve their knowledge and application of equity practices. An annual minority teacher recruitment fair and mini-grants helped recruit minority candidates and promote interest.
State-Level Partnerships & Statewide Services Connecticut Department of Children & Families (DCF)
Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS)
This successful, ongoing collaboration with DMHAS provided educational support and oversight for more than 150 students, who were admitted to 5 mental health facilities in the EASTCONN region. Remote learning was offered during COVID-19. We helped DMHAS offer a continuum of educational services, while addressing students’ mental health needs.
Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
Throughout the year, in spite of the pandemic, EASTCONN staff from Early Childhood Initiatives and Birth to Three worked closely with DCF to coordinate support for our region’s most vulnerable families, and to establish joint goals for children under our mutual care. Staff attended quarterly DCF, state-level Head Start meetings and collaborated with the liaison for DCF Birth to Five.
In close coordination with DDS, our Regional Transition Services (RTS) group addressed the needs of RTS students who were transitioning to adult services. RTS serves young adults with a broad range of disabilities.
Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitative Services (BRS)
Technology Solutions staff developed this universal platform for observation-based assessments of child development milestones. This system is primarily used to support the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS) and the Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework (CTPAF), by improving data collection and reporting. A parent observation portal was added to record children’s progress at home during COVID-19.
Our Assistive Technology team provided BRS adult programs with assessment services and support for 6 adult clients with disabilities, who are seeking to obtain or maintain employment. Services were also provided to 20 students from 3 school districts, 3 educators and 2 family members through BRS’s Level-Up program for transition-age students.
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Statewide Data Systems Support eObserve Observation Management
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020 Magnet School Lottery Management Tool
EASTCONN programmers custom-designed a process and related enrollment lottery software portal to support online applications for a member district’s magnet school and dual-language program. The EASTCONN process and software assured accurate data-collection and complete equity and fairness in the lottery process, used by 692 students and their families.
Student Information System (SIS) Support
The agency provided 8 districts with on-site consultation and PD for PowerSchool and Tyler SIS, serving as the primary SIS support for 4 districts. We also became Connecticut’s only authorized Infinite Campus service center, acquiring 1 client district. Continued to provide local and regional trainings and provided input on information systems to the CSDE and PowerSchool.
Teacher of the Year (TOY) Application
In collaboration with the Connecticut TOY Council and the CSDE, Technology Solutions continued to provide a statewide, online system for submitting and scoring Connecticut’s TOY applications. In 2020, the system handled 86 applications and 537 scoring sessions, eliminating postage and paper.
Kindergarten Inventory
Provided data management and system support for the CSDE annual online Kindergarten Inventory, in use in all Connecticut school districts. The Kindergarten Inventory provides the CSDE with critical developmental progress data for nearly 37,000 kindergarten students.
Data Collection & Research Services
Technology Solutions provided technical and logistical support for collection of School Climate surveys of students, parents and staff for 6 districts, including survey delivery, results analyses and comprehensive reporting of summative data. Custom survey work, statistical analysis and reporting services are available.
AGENCY GOAL 2
Higher Education Partnerships & Collaborations UConn Collaborations • Early Childhood: Head Start staff continued
to measure the achievement of family-defined goals through its collaboration with UConn’s School of Human Development and Family Studies. This partnership relates to Head Start’s Community Engagement Framework. Results helped guide referrals, program improvements and staff professional development.
• Psychological & Behavioral Support:
In collaboration with UConn’s NEAG School of Education, we continued to support doctoral students, enabling them, with supervision, to provide academic and behavioral consultation and coaching to school-based staff to improve outcomes for students. A partnership with UConn’s Collaboratory on School and Child Health focused on trauma-informed service delivery in schools, and fostering trauma-sensitive practices for students, families and staff.
College Opportunities for EASTCONN Students • Quinebaug Middle College (QMC)
Magnet High School: In 2019-2020, 75
students enrolled in free college courses; 75 students took 102 classes at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) and achieved a passing rate of 95%. After the first semester, QMC students outperformed QVCC students with a cumulative GPA average of 3.14. Enrollment in our UConn Early College Experience courses averaged 22 students, with 52 students earning 156 transferable credits.
• Regional Transition Services (RTS): Located
on QVCC’s Danielson campus, our RTS program enabled 5th-year students with developmental disabilities to take a college class each semester that helped them develop the self-advocacy skills needed to take college classes and secure special learning accommodations.
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EASTCONN at-a GLANCE 19
150 PROGRAMS & SERVICES 630 EMPLOYEES 15 LOCATIONS 100+ STUDENT TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES 33 COMMUNITIES 36 SCHOOL SYSTEMS 83 SCHOOLS 260 ADMINISTRATORS 2,948 TEACHERS 38,818 PreK-12 STUDENTS 263,496 RESIDENTS
80 ~ 2020
LEADING & LEARNING
EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES
96%
of Birth to Three parents said it boosted their child’s Development & Learning
150
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
120+
16
K-12 STUDENT SERVICES
Provided
238
leaders with SEL Coaching & PD
members use Cooperative Purchasing
ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
students attended the Autism Program Assistive Technology helped 238 K-12 students with special needs
404 adults sought a High School Diploma
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Food Services prepared
150,000+
Emergency Student Meals during COVID-19
Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
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Managed the TEAM platform for
2,761
New Teachers
*As of 5/31/20
EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES
K-12 STUDENT SERVICES
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Our 2020 Teacher of the Year system handled 86 applications & 537 scoring sessions
Head Start & Early Head Start served
398 children & families in NE CT
MAGNET HIGH SCHOOLS
ACT enrolled 150 full-time students from 32 sending districts QMC enrolled 79 students from 18 towns The LEAP School enrolled 13 students from 2 districts ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
HR Fingerprinting
EASTCONN RESC
80 ~ 2020
EASTCONN
4 40
LEADING & LEARNING
EASTCONN Mobile Stem Lab 4 schools used our Lab, providing students with unique, scientific field experience
19
CELEBRATED
YEARS
ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
1,241 Adult job-seekers served through WIOA Act
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
1,294
we transported 1,294 students daily to sites across CT, MA and RI www.eastconn.org 24.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 3
A LEAP alternative high school student beams while pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, thanks to a personalized, career-focused curriculum, made possible by LEAP’s innovative approach to teaching and learning.
AGENCY GOAL 3
To enhance the knowledge and skills of educators and the whole community, so they can effect change and facilitate positive outcomes for learners.
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AGENCY GOAL 3
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
Partnering with KnowledgeWorks, EASTCONN workshops help educators advance their use of personalized, competency-based learning.
2019-2020 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Professional Learning Support In-District Support & Training
Pre-COVID-19, EASTCONN staff provided 205 days of on-site, embedded professional development and support in 20 districts, for more than 750 educators. Staff also implemented customized, local professional learning plans for a variety of education reform initiatives, including performance task development, differentiated instruction, applications of Connecticut Core Standards, social studies and science standards.
Mathematics Learning
Modeling, coaching and district-embedded professional learning was provided to math educators in 4 districts, addressing Connecticut Core Standards for mathematics and readiness for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) assessment. Two 4-day Math Recovery courses in summer 2019 provided an overview of that model for 20 math educators from 17 districts.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
EASTCONN science staff supported 7 districts and 60 educators through a range of services as they continued to adopt NGSS. Activities included
sessions on NGSS curriculum alignment, rubric development, assessments and administrator support.
Jason Learning Science PD
Once again, we collaborated with Jason Learning to offer a PD series called Resources and Tools for an NGSS Classroom; it included workshops called “JASON for Elementary (Grades 3-5)” and “Climate (Grades 6-8).” The partnership enabled EASTCONN-area educators to attend additional professional learning and to obtain “takeaway” resources. Nearly 40 teachers participated.
KnowledgeWorks
During our second year of partnering with the innovative education organization, KnowledgeWorks, EASTCONN magnet and alternative high schools and 3 area districts engaged in professional learning and coaching to advance a personalized, competency-based model for learning. Based on the review of a needs-assessment in the 10 areas of conditions for readiness, a series of collaborative learning sessions and individual school coaching deepened participants’ knowledge base and understanding of the competency-based approach.
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ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 3
EASTCONN’s Early Childhood Initiatives team regularly collaborates with state leaders and university practitioners to offer research-based conferences like this year’s 7th Annual Infant/Toddler Conference. Cutting-edge thinkers and guest speakers, group panels and interactive break-out sessions prompt important peer discussions about theory and engaging practices – catalysts for creating positive child outcomes.
Minority Teacher Recruitment (MTR)
EASTCONN continued its work on its MTR program in collaboration with the RESC Alliance, whose collective goals are to recruit, hire, develop, support and retain a racially, ethnically and culturally diverse teaching and administrative workforce for Connecticut schools.
EASTCONN’S Center for Educational Leadership (CEL)
Both before and during COVID-19, CEL staff offered educators an ongoing series of deeply reflective professional learning experiences, as they examined the characteristics of leadership in today’s world. Through research-based professional learning approaches and experiential activities dedicated to evidence-based practices and personal reflection, the CEL supports administrators and district leaders as they consider and analyze a range of leadership options, actions and instructional methods. Of note:
• Leadership Coaching: CEL educators used
the Connecticut Leadership Framework to guide discussion and provide customized coaching to
4. www.eastconn.org 27. www.eastconn.org
more than 50 school and district leaders as they addressed the unique needs and challenges in their school systems.
• Strategic Advancement Planning:
Staff facilitated strategic planning support in 2 districts, resulting in customized plans for district advancement.
CCSU/EASTCONN Sixth-Year Cohort Collaboration
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) continued its collaboration with EASTCONN Education Services to offer a second, 2-year cohort of CCSU’s Sixth-Year Certificate in Educational Leadership. This year, 11 Sixth-Year cohort members worked both online and in-person with CCSU faculty and EASTCONN professional staff to prepare for their Intermediate Administrator 092 certificate. Program content is customized to meet the needs of administrators in small, resource-strapped school districts. The cohort meets at EASTCONN’s Hampton Conference Center, providing easier regional access to the highly regarded CCSU program by eliminating long-distance travel to
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 3
“The EASTCONN team has created conditions to engage deeply to advance the field of SEL in service of students, adults and the greater school community.” – Dr. Ellen Connors, Facilitator, The Leader’s Guide to Systemic SEL Implementation CCSU’s New Britain campus.
Educator Evaluation Support & Training
Professional Development & Evaluation Committee (PDEC)
EASTCONN’s Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) continued to support PDEC in 2 districts, contributing to increased coherence between teacher evaluation, student performance data and professional development. In turn, this led to better alignment of strategic initiatives across both districts.
Teacher Education And Mentoring (TEAM) Collaborative
We continued to manage the EASTCONN-builtand-maintained online platform for the TEAM Collaborative, used this year by 2,761 beginning teachers, 2,500 Mentors, 2,240 Reviewers and District Facilitators statewide. After state funding ended in 2018, EASTCONN led a statewide initiative involving the RESC Alliance that has enabled 196 districts and schools to enroll their beginning teachers in this important induction, support and retention program for new teachers.
Statewide Early Childhood Professional Development Early Childhood Initiatives staff supported numerous regional and statewide early childhood initiatives this year, delivering workshops and coaching on a broad range of topics, including instructional strategies; Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS); Connecticut Documentation and Observations Teaching System (CT DOTS); social-emotional competence; collaboration and team-building; Executive Function; standards-based IEPs, and more. Highlights included:
Statewide Coaching Coordination
Early Childhood Initiatives staff prepared to
start coordinating a significant portion of statefunded professional learning opportunities, including trainings, coaching related to content, and technical assistance. With the proper supports in place, research shows that coaching and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) work best for increasing the likelihood that a positive change in practice will occur, over time.
7th Annual Infant/Toddler Conference
Just prior to the COVID-19 closures in March, we coordinated this popular, regional, annual conference, attended by 120 early childhood educators from across the state. “Connecting with Families: Building Partnerships to Support Children’s Learning” focused on understanding and applying effective ways that early childhood professionals can engage families and children in learning together. This year, presenters combined theory and engaging practices as participants considered how to listen, respond to and respect family cultures, norms and differing realities.
Professional Learning for Community-Based Early-Care Providers
Provided 30 different workshops, both in person and online, for hundreds of community-based, earlycare providers, on a wide variety of content and pedagogical topics. Attendees included pre-K and kindergarten teachers, paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, curriculum coordinators, early childhood administrators, infant/toddler teachers and paraprofessionals, Birth to Three providers, program administrators and related services staff, as well as social workers, DMHAS and DCF workers.
2,761
New teachers, 2,500 Mentors and 2,240 Reviewers used the TEAM Collaborative Program www.eastconn.org 28.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
21
Districts used our Psych & Behavioral Services
Also of note this year, EASTCONN Early Childhood Initiatives staff: • Continued to support and collaborate on the development of the Connecticut Core Knowledge & Competency (CT CKCs) Framework, an online self-assessment tool for professionals working with young children and their families. The framework provides a foundation for PD and quality improvement efforts. • Continued to roll out the EASTCONNdeveloped, preschool-student assessment system, Connecticut Documentation & Observation Teaching System (CT DOTS), which gives early childhood providers and teachers an improved, common format to monitor, analyze and report child observations.
Other Regional Professional Learning Initiatives EASTCONN Mobile STEM Lab
This unusual mobile laboratory is intended to get K-12 students and teachers out of the traditional classroom and into the great outdoors, where they can experience a range of opportunities for authentic scientific inquiry. This year, prior to COVID-19 school closures, the mobile lab traveled to different sites to provide 6 districts and 180+ students with an opportunity to use the laboratory’s on-board assets, which include state-of-theart scientific tools like microscopes, an electron microscope, computer screens, iPads, and more. Teachers learned about key NGSS phenomena and students engaged in inquiry-based lessons that
AGENCY GOAL 3 helped them think like scientists.
Psychological & Behavioral Consultation (PBC) Services
In 21 districts across the EASTCONN region, educators and school specialists used our neuropsychological assessment, behavioral consultation and professional development services to support and enhance learning outcomes for thousands of students. Staff provided comprehensive in-district support to their school colleagues throughout the year. Strategies changed with the introduction of COVID-19 in March, when staff turned to virtual platforms to deliver free, high-quality and direct student/family services and professional learning for their colleagues, both regionally and statewide. Of note:
• PBC staff facilitated Communities of Practice for school-based BCBAs in the EASTCONN region and statewide, and offered the option of obtaining CEUs. • Staff conceptualized, wrote and delivered content for free, interactive webinars, seen by thousands of paraeducators statewide, after the COVID-19 crisis closed schools, and forced professional learning online. Graduate students collaborated with PBC professionals to quickly build a new, temporary website to deliver educational content for paraeducators and other peers in the field. Webinars were delivered throughout the spring’s school closures. • Through RESC Alliance projects, staff expanded supports to districts in the areas of chronic absenteeism and trauma-sensitive practices. • Staff also presented more than 40 PD sessions in 15 districts, prior to COVID-19. As invited speakers at regional and national conferences, PBC staff presented outcomes from technical assistance, coaching and training, and continued to publish research in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals.
“[Your] ‘Day of Interventions 2.0’ is by far one of the best workshops I have been to in a while. I walked away from this workshop with material to use with my students the very next day.” – Deidriene Knowlton, Reading Interventionist, Stafford Public Schools 29. www.eastconn.org
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 3
Professional learning workshops present new approaches and ideas to build educators’ understanding across a range of demanding topics.
Student Information System (SIS) Support
Technology Solutions staff provided on-site consultation and professional development for 8 districts for 2 SIS products (PowerSchool; Tyler SIS), serving as the primary SIS support for 4 of them. Staff also formalized an agreement with a third SIS manufacturer (Infinite Campus) to become Connecticut’s only authorized service center, and acquired 1 client district, as a result. Continued to provide training locally and regionally through workshops and user-group meetings.
In-District Technology Support for Professional Learning Technology Solutions provided in-district PD for 22 districts and staff from 2 private schools, on topics like Student Information Systems (SIS), the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), STEM Robotics Instruction and Google Classroom. Technology staff also provided online technical training and support to participants in the TEAM Program, including 402
Mentors who completed the TEAM Online Mentor Update and 336 Reviewers who completed the TEAM Online Reviewer Update. Also provided 14 CT DOTS Online onboarding and training; 2 Digital Accessibility Trainings to state agencies; consultation PD to QMC, ACT and LEAP on digital accessibility and software compliance; and presented at the Universal Design in Higher Education Conference on digital accessibility.
180+
Students gained hands-on experience conducting science experiments in the field, thanks to EASTCONN’s Mobile STEM Lab www.eastconn.org 30.
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
AGENCY GOAL 3
Assistive technologies provide exciting options for students with disabilities, who can use innovative text-to-speech devices to communicate.
Assistive Technology (AT) & Related Services
Working in-person throughout most of the year, but shifting to effective, virtual platforms during the COVID-19 crisis, our AT and Related Services staff provided professional learning for educators, as well as direct services to disabled students, maintaining their progress, improving their access to general curricula, and helping them reach their potential.
• Professional Learning & Site-Based Support: AT staff supported 13 districts with
Consortium packages, providing them with priority scheduling, access to our AT Lending Library and Consortium trainings. AT provided 19 AT and/or AAC Assessments in Consortium districts. Services impacted 134 students, 211 educators and 62 family members.
• Related Services: Staff worked with 46 districts to support more than 600 students, preschool to age 21. Related Services include AT, OT, PT and speech-language therapy.
Regional Groups & Councils
Educators representing nearly all 36 of EASTCONN’s member districts attended one or more of our 14 professional learning councils this year, all of which are led by our education and technology specialists. EASTCONN’s free councils offer EASTCONNregion district staff with opportunities to explore a wide variety of content areas, such as technology, English language arts, science, mathematics, and more. Educators can connect with job-alike peers, share resources, learn about state mandates, hear from guest speakers and expand their professional learning.
“As a result of EASTCONN leadership in guiding our implementation of learning walks, teachers are seeing the value in learning from each other.” – Ashley Harrington, Teacher, Woodstock Elementary School 4. www.eastconn.org 31. www.eastconn.org
DISTRICT MAP
ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE | 2019-2020
EASTCONN Program Locations in the EASTCONN Region COLUMBIA
• EASTCONN Educational Services • Educational & Vocational Center (EVC) • Transportation
19
80 ~ 2020
Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
HAMPTON
• EASTCONN Central Administration and Conference Center
KILLINGLY
• Head Start at Killingly High School • Driver Education/QMC • Northeast Regional Program (NRP) • QMC
PLAINFIELD
• Plainfield Head Start – Early Childhood Center • Plainfield Head Start at Moosup Gardens
PUTNAM
• Putnam Head Start
WINDHAM
• ACT • Community Learning Center • Driver Education/ACT • The LEAP School
WOODSTOCK
• Woodstock Academy Cooperative
KEY: {
}=
PROGRAM LOCATIONS IN NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT
Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
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Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
“During our mid-year evaluation meetings with our teaching staff, one question asked was “What has made the biggest impact on your teaching practice this year?” Almost every teacher responded that their time with Gary Petersen has been extremely valuable and lifted the level of their teaching more than any other professional development they have ever had. Our staff has learned how to conduct effective mini lessons, confer and provide feedback to their students and target individual areas of need. We are already seeing the benefits of this work with all our students, who are more excited about reading and writing than they have ever been. Meaningful and impactful professional development such as this is helping to move our students and staff to the next level. - Paula Graef Principal, Brooklyn Elementary School
www.eastconn.org 376 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton, CT 06247 860-455-0707 inforequest@eastconn.org /wherelearningcomestolife