On June 6, 2017, retired CAS Assistant Executive Director Earle Bidwell sat down to chat with Elsie Torres, supervisor of bilingual education for the Meriden Public Schools and former principal of Meriden's John Barry School. With candor, passion and sincerity, Elsie shared the challenges she overcame and the successes she achieved during her four years as principal of the then struggling school which, when she arrived in 2012, had the highest poverty rate in the district and a 23% reading proficiency rate. Listen to Elsie’s inspiring turnaround journey!

Back to Contents

Have you participated in this year's online annual meeting yet? This involves nothing more than reviewing and voting on several documents, including the proposed 2017-2018 budget. To cast your e-ballots, go to http://www.casciac.org/am1617/ and log into the secure, members-only area of our website using your school number and login ID. You can ask questions and/or post comments prior to submitting your votes. Online voting will be open until midnight on June 30th. We need twenty more voters to reach our quorum requirement. Please help!

Back to Contents

Looking for a fantastic summer leadership experience for your students? Look no further! The 7th Annual New England Student Leadership Conference (NESLC) is scheduled for July 25-28, 2017, at Worcester State University (MA). This four-day, residential event is designed to help talented, committed young people become better citizens who will be positive, contributing adults and role models for youth. Registration closes today!

Back to Contents

Mark your calendars! CAS will host a statewide student activity expo on October 13, 2017, at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. The event is designed to showcase student activity programs that epitomize exemplary citizenship and civic awareness and have a direct and positive impact on school climate. The CT Student Activity EXPO will feature innovative and impactful programs nominated by school principals as well as exhibitors who will offer schools additional learning and enrichment services. Please email Dave Maloney at dmaloney@casciac.org if you are interested in being a presenter or exhibitor!

Back to Contents

Are you up to speed on the administrator evaluation model? If not, register now for the Administrator Evaluation Foundational Skills Two-Day Workshop on June 27 and 28. This training, designed for all public school and private program leaders having evaluation oversight for school and district administrators, is offered at no charge and will acquaint participants with the provisions of the administrator evaluation model.

Back to Contents

Are you aware of all of the programs and services that the association provides? Do you ever wonder what your central office staff members do in a given year? Here are two ways to find out! Review the annual reports published by each of the association’s six divisions. Or, watch this 30-minute video to get a glimpse of all of the events and activities that CAS sponsored during the 2016-2017 year!

Back to Contents

High school principals are invited to nominate a student to be considered for service as a member of the State Student Advisory Council on Education (SSACE). The council gives Connecticut students a voice in education planning and provides educational decision-makers with high school students’ perspectives on key issues. Please consider nominating one of your students. Applications must be submitted by June 23, 2017.

Back to Contents

The 2017-18 Connecticut's Kid Governor (CKG)^SM program has been officially launched! This award-winning statewide civics program for 5th graders teaches students about government, the history/process of voting, and the importance of civic engagement. It is a no-cost program that aligns with the CT Social Studies Frameworks and CT Core Standards. New 2017-18 CKG resources are now available at http://ct.kidgovernor.org/. As you gear up for a well-deserved summer break, please share this information with any 5th grade teachers who may be interested in having their class participate this fall.

Back to Contents

Districts are invited to participate in the Connecticut Certificate of Global Engagement (CCGE), a no-cost pilot program sponsored by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies, Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, and the World Affairs Council. The CCGE is a designation that districts may award students who demonstrate achievement toward global competency. This initiative focuses and validates the excellent global learning activities already in place in most school districts. Learn more at an information session on June 14th.

Back to Contents

General and special education teachers are invited to the Cromwell Radisson on October 3rd for Co-Teaching: Making It Work for You and Your Students! This full-day workshop, sponsored by the State Education Resource Center (SERC), will feature Dr. Marilyn Friend, international presenter and expert in the area of co-teaching. In this session, Dr. Friend will share recent research and identify contemporary ideas for implementing outcomes-driven co-teaching.

Back to Contents

LEARN is hosting a five-day professional learning series on teacher evaluation beginning on June 21. The newly revised CSDE Foundational Skills for Evaluators of Teachers 2017  will focus on the evaluator's capacity to observe and analyze teacher performance and practice inherent in the CT Common Core of Teaching. The training is designed to link written feedback to verbal feedback and coaching strategies.

Back to Contents

Geno Auriemma, Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan are just three of many high-profile sports figures who will be sharing their stories of success – and failure – at the 2017 What Drives Winning Conference on June 27th in Boston, MA. Author Brett Ledbetter will moderate this historic annual event, leading personal conversations with these championship coaches that look beyond the X’s and O’s to reveal what drives their success.

Back to Contents