Connecticut State Department of Education

Teacher of the Year Ceremony
Due to inclement weather, the Teacher of the Year Ceremony has been postponed to December 16, 2025 from 5-7pm. Doors will open at 4pm. The Ceremony will take place at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, and the order of events will remain the same.

Title I Committee of Practitioners Membership Information

We are still looking to fill some vacancies on our Title I Committee of Practitioners.  We are especially looking for families/ caregivers, instructional support staff,  and representatives of non-publics. The time commitment is four virtual meetings a year, about one hour each, likely on Wednesday afternoons. If you would like to volunteer or to get more information, please complete the Interest Form- Title I Committee of Practitioners.

If you are a Title I school leader, or a non-public school leader and are unable to participate, but would like to nominate a parent, teacher, paraprofessional or other colleague, please use the Nomination Form- Title I Committee of Practitioners.

Per the ESEA, the membership shall consist of a majority of representatives from local educational agencies.

It may include:

  • Administrators from traditional public school districts and charter schools, including the administrators of programs described in other parts of this title (Neglected and Delinquent, Migrant)
  • Teachers from traditional public school districts and charter schools, including vocational educators
  • Principals and other school leaders
  • Parents/Guardians
  • Members of local school boards
  • Representatives of private school children and
  • Specialized instructional support personnel and paraprofessionals.

Current Members

SEA Representatives
  • Jennifer Murrihy, State Title I Director
  • Amanda Baksa, Title I School Improvement Grant (SIG) Coordinator
Administrators from traditional public school districts and charter schools, including the administrators of programs described in other parts of this title (Neglected and Delinquent, Migrant(CT does not participate in Title I Part C))
  • Steve Auteri, Milford Public Schools
  • Mary-Rose Meade, Regional School District 08
  • Judit DeStefano, Newtown Public Schools
  • Carly Fortin, Bristol Public Schools
  • Megan Graham, Area Cooperative Educational Services (Title I Part A, Title I Part D)
  • Jeanine Rose, Regional School District 01
  • Heather Jacobi, Stafford Public Schools
  • Kenneth Joseph, Booker T. Washington Academy (Charter)
Teachers from traditional school districts and charter schools, including vocational educators
  • Lisa Jones, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (Vocational Education)
  • Lindsey-Anne Calarco, Thompson Public Schools
  • Sally Dastoli, Odyssey Community School (Charter)
Principals and other school leaders
  • Adrianne Giammatteo, Winchester Public Schools
Parents/Guardians
  • Jim Welch, Wethersfield, CT
Members of local school boards
  • LaToya Fernandez, West Hartford Public Schools
Representatives of private school children
  • VACANT- currently recruiting
Specialized instructional support personnel and paraprofessionals.
  • VACANT- currently recruiting
Community Partners
  • Corinne Swanson, Connecticut Museum
  • Jacob Orcutt, CT Old State House