EASTCONN Employee Update
Spring 2022
eastconn.org
faces of EASTCONN
the school-wide, small-group and individual-student level to develop systems and practices to support positive outcomes for students. This year, I have the exciting opportunity to support our EASTCONN Autism Program on a more global level as the Interim Program Director.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
The best part of my current role is having a “front-row seat” as our students make incredible growth across so many areas of skill development. I also get to work with the most devoted and talented group of people. It really is such a special place!
Q&A WITH ERIN CROSBY
Interim Program Director at EASTCONN’s Autism Program
SHARE WITH US YOUR “ELEVATOR SPEECH” DESCRIBING YOUR ROLE AT EASTCONN.
I am a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who currently serves as the Interim Program Director at EASTCONN’s Autism Program (EAP). Prior to being in this role, I worked as an Educational and Behavioral Consultant supporting many districts within the Northeast Corner. While in that role, I collaborated with teachers and administrators at
WHERE WERE YOU LAST EMPLOYED (BEFORE EASTCONN), FOR HOW LONG, AND WHAT WAS YOUR TITLE AND ROLE? EASTCONN has been my home for most of my career. After graduating with my master’s degree, I did work for two years as a Behavior Specialist for Plainfield Public Schools, where I supported students and teams with implementing behavior intervention plans at the school-wide, small-group, and individual-student level.
See Faces of EASTCONN, Page 6
Meet David Erwin
EASTCONN’s Board of Directors has named David Erwin, who currently serves as the Service Coordinator for the Regional Educational Service Centers (RESC) Alliance throughout Connecticut, as our Interim Executive Director. David is an experienced educator and administrator who has served as superintendent of schools in numerous Connecticut towns, including Canton, Montville, Avon, Clinton and Berlin. He began his career as a teacher in Waterbury and has been an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Program at Sacred Heart University for over 20 years. Welcome to EASTCONN, David!
EASTCONN Interim Executive Director David Erwin
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Employee Update | Spring 2022
News You Can Use Finance Office Updates Submitted by Edward Martin
As the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal/school year approaches, please review the information below to ensure a smooth process. FINAL PAY For those on the 21-pay schedule, the final pay is June 10, 2022. BUSINESS USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLE(S) In order to comply with insurance industry standards, EASTCONN is requiring all agency employees who use their personal vehicle(s) for agency business to submit a copy of their driver’s license and a copy of their auto insurance certificate. You can either email a scanned copy of both documents to sedwards@eastconn.org or you can send paper copies through the interoffice mail system. MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE As of January 1, 2022 the new mileage rate was set to $0.585 per mile. Mileage forms must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the month that the travel occurred. All mileage forms must contain the supervisor’s signature as well as the appropriate budget code. ONLY an original form will be accepted, we do not pay from copies or faxes. All June mileage forms must in submitted by Friday, July 8, 2022 in order to be paid from the 2021/2022 budget. PETTY CASH FORMS All receipts together with any remaining funds must be submitted to Sharlene Edwards/Joe Tuscano in the Finance Office by Friday, June 10, 2022.
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REQUISITIONS All requisitions must be entered into the MUNIS system by Friday, June 10, 2022. Anyone needing to process a requisition after this date MUST contact Sharlene Edwards in the Finance Office. FINAL 2021/2022 PAYMENT TO VENDORS All Purchase Orders (pink copy together with vendor packing slips) must be received in the Finance Office no later than Friday, July 15, 2022 to be paid from the 2021/2022 budget. It will not be possible for us to write checks in the 2021-2022 database after July 22, 2022. Books will remain open for ADJUSTMENTS ONLY after July 22, 2022. REVENUE INVOICES All billing information must be submitted to support staff as soon as possible to ensure billing arrives in the Finance Office by Friday, June 10, 2022. QUESTIONS? If you are interested or have any questions regarding the Direct Deposit benefit, please reach out to Ed Martin via email at emartin@eastconn.org.
MILEAGE RATE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2022
$.585 per mile
Employee Update | Spring 2022
EASTCONN Social Media
Follow the latest agency happenings on our social media channels.
Like, follow & subscribe!
www.facebook.com/wherelearningcomestolife
eastconn_resc
YouTube
Website
www.eastconn.org
www.eastconn.org/youtube
Stay Connected to EASTCONN
Tell Us About It....Share Your Stories!
What’s happening in your program today? If you have a special EASTCONN photo, video or event to share on our social media pages, send it to the EASTCONN Marketing team at:
socialmedia@eastconn.org 3.
Employee Update | Spring 2022
New Employees Adult Education Programs Jason Barnett Facilitator
We welcome all our new employees and congratulate those who are celebrating milestone anniversaries with us! Jennifer Chrzanowski BHS Teacher
Erin Mello Teacher
Deirdre Desmarais Data/Billing Clerk
Heather Ryan Administrative Assistant
Taylor Redner Behavioral Specialist
Jose Martinez Alicea Driver Aide
Lidia Korytkowska EHS Assistant Teacher
Jaycen Bizzle Substitute Teacher Kevin Conover Teacher
K-12 Student Services
Joseph Glennon Teacher
Bethany Anderson Instructional Assistant
Alyssa Gwinnell Substitute Teacher
Stefanie Bellavance Administrative Assistant
Christine Palacios Service Coordinator
Isabel Butterick Instructional Assistant
Arnaldo Rivera Spanish GED Teacher
Jennifer Rivera-Fernandez Secretary Joan Rodriguez Secretary
Marie Sienkiewicz Secretary
Dawn Charette Intervention Specialist William Corrente Tutor
Paula Frederick Instructional Assistant Ava Gaudet Substitute Teacher
Stacey Solomon Secretary
Chelsey Knyff Substitute Teacher
Early Childhood Initiatives Megan Bates EHS Teacher Aide
Evan Krawiec Education Specialist Melissa McKeon Coordinator of Related Services
Bonnie Chambers BHS Assistant Teacher
Sherrie Parenteau Special Ed. Instructor
Kiara Sanchez Instructional Assistant
Years Of Service
Title/Role
Jennifer Oldroyd Van Driver
Shawn Schlieper Job Coach
Rene Pageau Van Driver
Heather Wilcox Instructional Assistant
Nancy Pepin Food Service Worker Walter Santiago Van Driver
Leading & Learning Taegan Praytor Program Assistant
Eddie Soto Driver Aide
Meg Whiteley Administrative Assistant
Ruben Soto Van Driver
Organizational Support Services
Douglas St John CDL Driver
Curtis Baron Van Driver
Amy Rood Clerk
Sarah Butts Food Service Worker
Joseph Tuscano Accountant
Rosalie Clements Van Driver
Yeiliesse Vega Martinez Driver Aide
Juan Dejesus Ortiz Mechanic
Employee Milestone Anniversaries Name
Anthony Marisi Sous Chef
Name
Edward Wingate Driver Aide
Years Of Service
Title/Role
30+ Years
10 Years
20+ Years
Michelle Tharp
Tammy Lynn Shippee
Karen Heath
Robert Norgren Donna Drasch
Donna Mariano
Daniel Verboven Cynthia Wells
32 29 28 23
21 21
Instructional Assistant Bootcamp Instructor Instructional Assistant Assistant To Dir. Of Facilities Teacher Employment & Training
Coordinator Michael Ternowchek Lorna Williams Diane Turkis
20 20 20
Van Driver Van Driver Senior Bookkeeper
15 Years Thomas Schenking
15
IT Unit Manager
Michael Shea
10
Special Ed. Instructor Speech
Bethany Fernandes
10
Teacher
Nadine Maciolek Louisa French Cortney Hyte
10 10 10 10
Dir. Of Language Pathologist EHS Assistant Teacher CDL Driver BHS Substitute Teacher Social Worker
5 Years Ava Molnar
5
Instructional Assistant
Nina Reardon
5
School Counselor
John Clauson
Jessica Dapsis Jean Hemmig
Brianna Jordan
Anslem Elumogo Tyler Davis
4.
10
5 Teacher 5
Regional NEDP
5 Teacher 5
Educ/Behavioral Specialist II
5
IT Systems Analyst
5
Van Driver
Employee Update | Spring 2022
How Do I...?
Here are some helpful tips for navigating EASTCONN’s online employee portal.
www.eastconn.org/employee-area
Check your email from any browser Click “EASTCONN Web Mail” to arrive at the Microsoft Outlook Web App, then simply enter your email address and password to access your account.
Request Tech Support
Click “Squawk Tech Support Ticket” and enter your EASTCONN email address and password, then select “New Ticket” on the dashboard to request service for your computer, network, phone or other device.
Access the Employee Intranet
Use your email address and password to log in to EASTCONN’s Intranet Employee Page, which gives you access to our Employee Self Service (ESS), Applitrack, departmental resources and much more.
Request Facilities Support
Request assistance with a HVAC/plumbing, lighting, electrical or other location-specific issue by clicking “Squawk Facilities Support Ticket.” Enter your EASTCONN email address and password, select “New Ticket” and fill out the required information to start the process. 5.
Employee Update | Spring 2022 Check out the ESI April Newsletter: Don’t Let Stress Get the Best of You!, April is Alcohol Awareness Month, E-Learning Popular Picks, and More! All the TotalCare EAP Newsletters can be found on
You may wish to take advantage of the free Work-Life Webinars offered by our ESI Employee Assistance Group!
WWW.THEEAP.COM New driver in the family? Did you know that EASTCONN employees can receive a discount when enrolling in our Driver Education Programs? Sign up and get a 10% discount for either the 8-hour Safe Driving Course or the 38-hour Full Program. Visit www.eastconn.org/drivers-education-home to learn more about our programs. Then email drivered@eastconn.org to request your discount code.
From Excel charts to Google Sheets, Technology Solutions offers a variety of in-person and online trainings to EASTCONN staff throughout April and May. Email Briana Patriarca at bpatriarca@eastconn.org for more information. ...Faces of EASTCONN, from page 1
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO EASTCONN?
I have a long history of employment with EASTCONN (dating back to my first college internship!). After graduating from college with my bachelor’s degree, I worked for EASTCONN as an Instructional Assistant supporting students in a local high school while I obtained my master’s degree. Then, after completing my master’s degree, I left EASTCONN for a short time to gain experience as a Behavior Specialist at an elementary school. As luck would have it, while in that role I was able to participate in consultation and training from members of EASTCONN’s Psychological and Behavioral Consultation Services Department (PBC). After only two years away, I returned to EASTCONN as a member of the PBC Division as an Educational and Behavioral Consultant.
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SHARE A FUN FACT ABOUT YOU THAT WE WOULDN’T KNOW OTHERWISE. I used to play piano and sing in a band.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
“If they can’t learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn.” – Ivar O. Lovaas
If you have additional questions for Erin please email her at: ecrosby@eastconn.org
Employee Update | Spring 2022
EASTCONN Milestones EASTCONN Food Services Celebrates 10 Years! Here are just a few of the milestones from the past 10 years: •
Executive Chef Lance Plourde and Director of Food Services Heather Plourde Congratulations, EASTCONN Food Services, on 10 years of dedicated service to EASTCONN and our districts and school communities! On March 12, 2012, EASTCONN Food Services opened under the direction of Heather Plourde and Executive Chef Lance Plourde. Since the very beginning, Food Services has proudly worked with students, starting with EVC and has grown to include RTS, NRP and QVC.
August 2012 – EFS became sponsors of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). • 2012/13 – EFS began operating under the NSLP sponsorship in EASTCONN Schools and Programs: EVC, NRP, EAP, ACT and QMC. • August 2013 – EFS was awarded the QVCC Cafeteria Bid and opened the Food for Thought Café in January 2014. • 2021-2022 - over 500,000 student meals were planned, prepared & served! Districts under contract: • Scotland -15/16- present • Hampton - 17/18- present • Columbia - 17/18 - present • Pomfret - 17/18 - present • Bolton - 17/18- present • Hebron - 18/19 - present • Brooklyn - 18/19 - present • Sterling - 19/20 - present
April 11-15 is National Work Zone Awareness Week
Spring and summer are peak road construction seasons. Slow down for work zones and keep everyone safe! Coming soon for EASTCONN employees - free online courses with tips for better, safer driving. Watch your email for details. 7.
#WeAreEASTCONN
Join the Team! #WeAreEASTCONN
Fans of our Facebook page may have noticed new employees and familiar faces holding up a #WeAreEASTCONN sign. Want to participate? Write us at socialmedia@eastconn.org and we’ll do the rest.
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Scan the QR Code to view the video and also subscrbe to our YouTube Page. https://youtu.be/-Cdv2ezGIwM