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.

Increasing Educator Diversity (IED) Policy Oversight Council

Members

Member Name Role/Organization
Noha Abdel-Hady Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, Windsor
Dr. Ryan Donlon Associate Executive Director, LEARN
Sal Escobales Teacher, Assistant Principal, Manchester Public Schools
Dr. Samuel Galloway Superintendent of Schools, Somers
Rebecca Good National Vice Provost of Teacher Preparation, Relay Graduate School of Education
Steven Hernandez Executive Director, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity
Dr. Terrell Hill Superintendent, Windsor Public Schools
Dr. Jason Irizarry Dean, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
Patrice McCarthy Executive Director and General Counsel, CT Association of Boards of Education
Hamish McPhail Interim Executive Director ConnCAN
Dr. Madeline Negron Superintendent of Schools, New Haven
Dr. Elsa Nunez President, Eastern CT State University and Vice President for Connecticut State Universities
Werner Oyanadel Latino and Puerto Rican Policy Director, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity
Faith Sweeney CEA Representative
Jason Teal Connecticut NAACP 2nd Vice President 
Kevin Walton Director of Equity and Inclusion, Areas Cooperative Educational Services (ACES)