FALL 2017
EmployeeUpdate
Getting to Know Gary Mala, EASTCONN’s New Executive Director
faces of EASTCONN
EASTCONN is pleased to welcome Gary S. Mala as the agency’s third Executive Director since its inception in 1980. Gary succeeds Paula Colen, who retired in September after 12 years as Executive Director and 40 years in education – 37 of them with EASTCONN. Mala has been Avon’s superintendent of public schools since 2011. Prior to that he served as Superintendent in two other public school districts and
Annex named for Paula M. Colen
The EASTCONN Board of Directors has named its Hampton Conference Center wing the “Paula M. Colen Annex” in honor of retiring Executive Director Paula M. Colen. The board announced its decision, and surprised Colen with a bronze plaque, during her September retirement party. Colen led the agency’s decision to build the 12,000-square-foot, $6-million annex nearly 7 years ago, in response to decreased state funding, to accommodate a quickly growing staff, and to provide adequate conference meeting space.
wellness tip from ECHIP
Before the weather turns cold, take advantage of Connecticut and Rhode Island state parks and hiking trails! Eastern Connecticut Health Insurance Program (ECHIP) has compiled a comprehensive list, making it easy to find a trail near you! https://bit.ly/2fRdVHo
held numerous leadership positions that included those of high school principal, elementary principal and pupil services director. Mala was recently awarded the Presidential Award from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). We sat down with Gary to get to know him on a more personal level. Here’s what he had to say: Continued on page 2
technology WORKSHOPS by Nancy Jagaczewski
Your Next Wallet Could Be Your Smart Phone
10/3/17, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tech Center, Hampton
Outlook Features
10/6/17, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tech Center, Hampton
Word: Beyond the Word Processor
10/12/17, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Birch, Hampton To register email: njagaczewski@eastconn.org
EASTCONN is TOP TEAMS!
T O P T E A M S
Picture this: You’ve entered an elevator and a fellow rider asks you to explain what EASTCONN does. Oh no! Where do you start?
EASTCONN offers over 150 programs and services. How will you begin to explain it all during the 30-second ride? Don’t worry!
We’ve mapped out your EASTCONN elevator speech in an easy to remember acronym: TOP TEAMS! So, if you ever find yourself in this situation, simply follow this script: EASTCONN is a public,
non-profit Regional Educational Service Center, which has been serving the educational needs of northeastern Connecticut schools, families and communities since 1980. We offer:
create an EASTCONN EMAIL SIGNATURE All EASTCONN employees are encouraged to create a professional email signature. Why, you ask? For a few reasons! A signature establishes and reinforces EASTCONN’s brand in every email message sent. It helps demonstrate the agency’s legitimacy and professionalism. A signature also serves as your digital business card. It’s an easy way to connect with customers and show your openness to communication. Here’s an example: John Smith Manager EASTCONN, Information Technology Department 376 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton, CT 06247 Phone: 860-455-0707 Fax: 860-455-0691 jsmith@eastconn.org www.eastconn.org
echnology Solutions rganizational Support rofessional Development for Educators ransportation arly Childhood Programs dult Education & Job Skills Programs agnet High Schools pecial Education Programs K-12
save the date! ARTS AT THE CAPITOL THEATER (ACT) Showcase 2017
Thursday, November 9th | 7:00 p.m. Admission: $5 general admission This event showcases the work done in ACT’s classrooms through the first few months of the school year.
Jesus Christ Superstar Fall Musical
Thursday, November 30th, 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 1st, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2nd, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Admission: Adults - $10, Students/Seniors - $8, ACT Students/Alumni/Military - $5 ACT brings this rock opera to life on the Capitol Theater stage. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, this musical is sung-through, with no spoken dialogue.
Detailed instructions on how to set up your email signature can be found at this link: http://it.eastconn.org:81/departments/communications
For ticket reservations for both shows call: 860-465-5636.
message board EASTCONN Receive A 10% Employee Discount On Classes And Trips Offered By EASTCONN Community Education. Visit: Register.asapconnected.com.
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Coming This October: Flu Clinic And Employee Health Fair.
Have An Idea For An Employee Wellness Program? Contact Jean Stratton, ECHIP’s Health & Wellness Coordinator, At Jean@Companywellnessadvisors.com.
Have an event, program or special activity that you’d like to share with the EASTCONN community? E-mail your suggestion to tsleight@eastconn.org
Continued from page 1 Q: What are your interests outside of work? A: My wife and I enjoy going to auctions, estate sales and tag sales to secure items to sell in our space in an antique mall located in Collinsville. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, baking cupcakes and cakes, and writing about my professional experiences. My wife and I are avid NASCAR fans. Q: Any pets at home? A: We have a 1 ½ year old cock-a-poo and have owned a number of Arabian show horses that our two daughters rode competitively. Q: Are you a sports guy? Who are your teams? A: I am a fan of the #2 car driven by Brad Keselowski, the Chicago Bears, Boston Red Socks, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. I am also a fan of the Portuguese National Soccer Team and Benfica, a soccer team also associated with Portugal.
Q: If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your days, what would it be? A: Red velvet cake with whipped cream frosting. Q: What are you most looking forward to in your work with EASTCONN? A: I am looking forward to supporting agency staff to meet the challenges we know are imminent in our work. Specifically, I am particularly motivated to further develop an EASTCONN culture that fosters risk taking as it relates to becoming “pioneers” in both what we offer to our member districts and how we deliver what they discuss as their needs. I also look to engage the EASTCONN culture to further promote and creativity, innovation both through a programmatic lens and a systems lens.
Would you like to nominate an EASTCONN employee for an upcoming Faces of EASTCONN article? Email your suggestion to tsleight@eastconn.org with a short message explaining your nomination.
Don’t forget about EASTCONN’s new Mini-Grant Application program!
If you and your colleagues have thought about an idea for a new EASTCONN program, product, or service, that reflects the agency’s focus on making learning come to life for learners of all ages – now is the time for you to develop it! EASTCONN will fund applications for requests in the amount of $500 - $1,500. Questions? Contact Maureen at mcrowley@eastconn.org or your department’s director.
Due to upcoming holidays, there are a few early deadlines for payroll.
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finance UPDATES by Barbara Reeves
Please submit all time sheets/Employee Self Service (ESS) entries to the Human Resources Office on the below dates for the following payrolls: • November 17 payroll – Due by noon on Thursday, November 9. • December 1 payroll – Due by noon on Tuesday, November 21. • December 29 payroll – Due by noon on Wednesday, December 20.
2017 W2’s – Please verify your name
and address is correct on your check and pay stub. Report any discrepancies directly to the Payroll Office by December 31. It is important that your information is correct before we print W2’s for 2017.
Direct Deposit – We encourage the
use of Direct Deposit, the electronic transfer of payroll to employee bank account(s). It is the safest, most reliable and convenient way to get paid and is offered to all EASTCONN employees.
If you are interested or have any questions regarding the Direct Deposit benefit, please call the Payroll Office at 455-1524 or send an e-mail to bdesjardin@eastconn.org. 3.
human resources UPDATES
We welcome all our new employees and congratulate those who are celebrating an anniversary with us!
by Janet Smith
NEW EMPLOYEES Adult Programs
K-12
Francis Ashline Substitute Teacher Assigned Alice Boudreau Administrative Assistant, HCO William Child Teacher, NLC Roger Roberge Security Guard, NLC Thena Cranfill Program Assistant, CLC Deshinay Pruitt JFES Employment Advocate, NLC Tamarie Reynoso Santiago JFES Program Assistant, Danielson Estefania Santos-Normandie WIOA Advisor, Danielson
Sean Fisher Instructor, Willimantic Joanne Sailor Instructional Assistant Willimantic Rebecca Gianforte Teacher, Columbia Aideen Hanlon Special Education Instructor, Columbia Laurel Ireland Instructional Assistant, Columbia Kara Price Autism ABA Instructor Columbia Kaitlyn Brien Teacher, Columbia/Killingly Lynn Drouin Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Kerri Geer Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Kristina Hall Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Brooke Nodden Teacher, Columbia/Killingly Ashley Pitcher Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Michael Spottiswoode Special Ed. Instructor Columbia/Killingly Laura Totzeck Teacher, Columbia/Killingly Kayla Arcuri Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Chelsea Barber Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Jefrey Bowden Behavior Interventionist Columbia/Killingly Courtney Churchill Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Lisa Girard Instructional Assistant Columbia/Killingly Whitney Massaro School Counselor
Early Childhood Initiatives
Rebecca Breen Coordinator Of Birth To Three HCO Cheryl Sanderson B-3 Dev. Therapist/Autism Coor, HCO Paula Abreu Head Start Manager Ed/Dis, HCO Patricia Brickner BHS Assistant Teacher Vernon Area Barbara Brzozowski BHS Assistant Teacher Vernon Area Arionna Flores EHS Assistant Teacher Killingly Laura Lybarger Monitoring/Data Project Spec. HCO Carol Minot EHS Teacher Aide Plainfield Megan Prosser BHS Teacher, Killingly Emily Stewart BHS Teacher Aide Assigned Renee Vezina EHS Teacher Aide, Plainfield
Columbia/Killingly Stephanie Gionfriddo Teacher, QVCC Joseph Schroth Dishwasher, QVCC Stephanie Shabanowitz Instructional Assistant, QVCC Lindsay Butler-Trump Speech Language Pathologist, Assigned Kim Fitzner Transition Coordinator W/A/R Margaret Gagnon Dishwasher, Pomfret Carol Salois Cashier, Pomfret Robin Salois Cashier, Hampton Erica Troiano Food Service Worker, QVCC Jing Xu Food Service Worker, Hampton
Organizational Support Services
Gary S. Mala Executive Director, HCO Heidi Radcliffe Copy/Mail Room Clerk, HCO Angela Dean Graphic Design/ Web Specialist, HCO
Shared Services
Ana Alvarez-Mena Tutor, E.O. Smith Steven Bayne Supervisor Shared Services, E.O. Smith Molly Finnigan Instructional Specialist, W.A. Breanna Fortin Tutor, Willington Kelly Gamblin Tutor, E.O. Smith Rondi Hickey Tutor, E.O. Smith Carrie Johnson Instructional Assistant Willington Holly Mccarthy Supervisor, Shared Services Willington
Tyler Sheil Tutor, E.O. Smith
Transportation
Frederick Baez Driver Aide Gail Banning Driver Aide Cheryl Barile CDL Driver Vernon Begin Driver Aide Ronald Caiazzo Driver Aide Sonia Escobar Van Driver Cathleen Marsh Van Driver Rosalyn Martinez Driver Aide Jose Ortiz Driver Aide Natalie Perez Driver Aide Rachael Riquier CDL Driver Frank Robbins CDL Driver Emmanuel Rodriguez Driver Aide Jonathan Rodriguez Driver Aide Felicia Sanchez Driver Aide Lori Savino CDL Driver Maynard Smith Van Driver Tabbitha Soler Van Driver Mercedes Sousa Van Driver Paul Stensland Driver Aide Maria Suarez Van Driver Walter Treschuk Van Driver
Facilities
Kristopher White Maintenance Worker HCO
ACT-Arts at the Capitol Theater, Willimantic • BHS-Basic Head Start • CDT-Clinical Day Treatment Programs, Columbia, Plainfield • CLC-Community Learning Center, Willimantic EHS-Early Head Start • HCO-Hampton Central Office • JFES-Jobs First Employment Services • NLC-Northeast Learning Center, Danielson • QMC-Quinebaug Middle College, Danielson • QVCC-Quinebaug Valley Community College • RTS-Regional Transistion Services at QMC, Danielson • WIOA-Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act
4.
ANNIVERSARIES
July
YEARS
E Aschenbrenner Kim Broad Suzanne Cimochowski Constance Toni Nancy Vitale Nancy Whitehead Cynthia Chester Kaitlyn Clements Karen Nieves Jodie Jacaruso Michael Davidson Preston Hyer Carissa Barber Melissa Jacobs Ravit Stein Miranda Hoar Sandra Garcia Rose Jaffery
33 Education Specialist 31 Administrative Assistant 29 Assist. Dir. Of Adult Programs 29 Adult Education Teacher 29 Staff Development Specialist 29 Secretary 16 Head Case Manager 16 Teacher 12 Driver Aide 10 Accountant 8 Driving Instructor Classroom 7 Teacher 6 Autism ABA Instructor 6 School Counselor 6 Psych & Behavorial Serv. Coor. 6 Job Development Coordinator 6 Adult Prog. Operations Spec. 5 Behavior Specialist
August Paula Macy 33 Technology Specialist Pauline Syphers 32 Van Driver Susan Eddy 31 Physical Therapist Bette Manning 30 Van Driver Diane Dalphonse 30 Teacher Janet Smith 30 Assistant To Director Of Human Resources Cynthia Lavigne 29 Support Driver Christine Lessig 27 Teacher Vicki Tolhurst 20 Tutor Kimberly Mccall 17 Van Driver Madeline Montalvo 17 Custodian Suzanne Lynch 16 Head Start Family Advocate Steven Wapen 16 Director Of Human Resources Michael Kolze 16 Teacher Debb Wojciulewicz 16 Teacher Sandra Evans-Abbott 14 Instructor Tiana Sekoll 14 Instructor Jennifer Snyder 13 ERESA Coordinator Theresa-Marie Lambert 12 Head Start Family Advocate Christopher Finson 11 Head Custodian/Supervisor Thomas Cronin 11 Director Of Education Services Yoriko Ayotte 11 Teacher Jane Glenn 10 Teacher William Rumley 10 Teacher Jessica Logee 10 BHS Teacher Dawn Mcquade 10 Early Headstart Manager Donna Daly-Atherton 9 Teacher Jonathan Dipippo 9 Teacher Donna Landry 9 External Diploma Prog. Instr. Sarah Mallory 9 Principal Katherine Popovic 9 Teacher Ann Bedard 9 Speech Language Pathologist
Judith Murphy Meghan Canning Norma Gervais Suzette Lefevre Karen Mcelroy Joseph Torres Kristina Wilsey Linda Hemenway Carol Klemyk Paul Colella Kristin James Jason Mattia Jessica Miglio Nicole Nichols Stacy Vocasek David Hinds Laura Vagnini Julia Grenier Larisa Carr Sheri Lambert Kurt Mias Randolph Nokes Don Skewes Patrick Walker Ayala Austin Hall Derrick Jones Sarah Turner Jose Rodriguez
9 Administrative Assistant 8 Teacher 8 Job Coordinator 8 Teacher 8 Teacher 8 Tutor 8 Instructional Assistant 8 CDL Driver 7 Executive Assistant 7 Database Developer 7 Education Specialist 7 Teacher 7 Teacher 7 Special Ed. Instructor 7 Teacher 6 Teacher 6 Teacher 6 EHS Teacher Aide 5 Health Ins. Cooperative Admin. 5 Early Childhood Specialist 5 Dean Of Students 5 Teacher 5 Security & Investigation Coord 5 Instructional Assistant 5 Teacher 5 Human Services Navigator 5 Speech Language Pathologist 5 Maintenance/Dispatcher
September Debra Siegel Karen Schenck Vivian Batterson Susan Hogan Judith Knowles Frederick Nieves Helen Jeannotte James Huggins Nancy Jagaczewski Carol Magliocco Frank Grabowski Angela Frati Janet Mcdonald Louise Brodeur Tracy Gustafson Daniel Boisvert Melinda Judson Donna Evans Paula Hanlon Taryn Novotny Mitchell Sibley-Jett Kathleen Thompson Melanie Rovero Geraldine Dineen Leslie McClellan
41 Staff Development Specialist 36 Teacher 33 Staff Development Specialist 32 Physical Therapist 31 Instructional Assistant 30 Assistant Director Of Transp. 28 Van Driver 20 Staff Development Specialist 20 Administrative Assistant 15 Assistive Technology Coor. 14 Van Driver 12 Administrative Assistant 11 BHS Teacher 10 Head Start Home Visitor 9 Physical Therapist 9 Teacher 8 Behavior Interventionist 8 CDL Driver 6 Logistics Specialist 6 Administrative Assistant 5 Vocational Coordinator 5 Safety & Training Coordinator 5 Guidance Counselor 5 Teacher 5 Van Driver 5.
SUMMER 2017 AT EASTCONN...While You Were Gone! Robotics Camp
Early Childhood Coaching
All EASTCONN Day
Eclipse Like EASTCONN on Facebook to see more pictures!