Full, Equal and Equitable Partnerships with Families

Focus Groups

Parents and families gave us their ideas in five focus groups around the state and on social media.

Parent Leadership Training Institute graduates, via Facebook, organized by Melvette Hill, National Parent Leadership Institute, on August 15, 2017.
Families at Nike Tykes Early Learning Center in Manchester, CT, organized by program director Shelly Garow on September 12, 2017.
Families at Griswold Elementary School in Griswold, CT, organized by Sandy Frizzel, School Readiness Liaison, on September 13, 2017
Fathers affiliated with Real Dads Forever, organized by program founder Doug Edwards in Manchester, CT, on October 4, 2017.
Family and Community Engagement and Early Learning Center in Danbury CT, organized by Anne Mead, on October 31, 2017.

Design Team Members

Paige Bray, University of Hartford
Ingrid Canady, State Education Resource Center
Judy Carson, Connecticut State Department of Education
George Coleman, Partnership for Early Education
Jackie Coleman, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Mary Farnsworth, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Melvette Hill, Commission on Women, Children and Seniors
Angela Holmes, Waterbury Hospital
Jennifer Johnson, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Jennifer Lussier, Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
Anne Mead, Family Engagement Coordinator, Danbury Public Schools
Joanna Meyer, Partnership for Early Education
Jennifer Michno, University of Connecticut
Carol O’Donnell, Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
Charlene Russell Tucker, Connecticut State Department of Education
Russell Sims, Family Engagement Coordinator, Windsor Public Schools
Deborah Watson, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Consultant

Anne T Henderson, Senior Consultant, National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement

Chair

Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell, Commissioner of Education, Connecticut State Department of Education

Parent and Family Representatives

Ms. Audrey Brown, Parent, Representing: African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP)
Ms. Lisa Fair, Parent, Achievement First, Representing: ConnCAN
Ms. Jennifer Falotico, Vice President for Membership, Connecticut Parent Teacher Association
Ms. Aggie Kurzyna, Parent, Representing: CT Parent Power
Ms. Jennifer Lussier, Parent Consultant, Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
Mr. Bryan Randall, Personnel Officer, U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Representing: State Council for Educational Opportunities for Military Children
Ms. Donna Thompson-Bennett, National Coordinator, National Parent Leadership Institute
Ms. Tynima Toney, Parent Coach, Hartford Parent University
Ms. Athena Wagner, Outreach Coordinator, State of Black Connecticut Alliance/CT Parents’ Union
Mr. Beresford Wilson, Assistant Director, FAVOR

Community Organization Representative

Dr. Jeana Bracey, Director School and Community Initiatives, Child Health and Development Institute
Ms. Paula Gilberto, CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, Representing: United Way of CT
Ms. Natasha Harris, Director of Workforce Quality Assurance, Urban League of Greater Hartford
Ms. Tamara Lanier, Chief Probation Officer, Connecticut Judicial Branch, Court Support Services Division, Representing: Connecticut State Conference of NAACP
Ms. Chemay Morales-James, Educational Equity Coach, My Reflection Matters & Bridge to Success, Representing: Commission on Equity and Opportunity
Mr. David Scata, Director of Education, Mohegan Tribe
Ms. Sara Sneed, Director, Education Investments, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Ms. Mirellise Vazquez, Executive Director Tauck Family Foundation, Representing: CT Council on Philanthropy

Education Organization Representatives

Dr. Abie Benitez, President, Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Representing: CT Association of Schools (CAS)
Mr. Jeffrey Bianco, Co-Chair, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Connecticut
Dr. Paige Bray, Associate Dean for Research and Community Education, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Hartford, Representing: Deans of Schools of Education
Ms. Elizabeth Brown, President, Waterbury Board of Education, Representing: CT Association of Boards Education (CABE)
Ms. Mary Lou DiPaola, ESL Teacher, New Haven Public Schools, Representing: CT Federation of Educational and Professional Employees (AFT-CT)
Dr. Clifford Dudley, Principal, Orchard Hills School, Milford Public Schools, Representing: CT Federation of School Administrators
Mr. Mario Florez, Director of School Climate and Culture, Hartford Public Schools, Representing: Commission on Women, Children and Seniors
Mr. Matthew Geary, Superintendent of Schools, Manchester Public Schools, Representing: CT Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS)
Dr. Nikitoula Menounos, Principal, Norwich Technical High School, Representing: CT Technical High School System
Mr. Robert Smoler, President, Fairfield Education Association, Representing: CT Education Association (CEA)
Mr. John Taylor, Executive Director, Booker T. Washington Academy, Representing: Northeast Charter Schools Network

Student Representatives

Ms. Derby Egyin, Student, Windsor Locks High School, Representing: State Student Advisory Council on Education
Mr. Giancarlo Isotti, Student, Suffield High School, Representing: State Student Advisory Council on Education

Connecticut State Department of Education Leaders/Staff

Ms. Charlene Russell-Tucker, Chief Operating Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
Ms. Ellen Cohn, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education
Mr. John Frassinelli, Chief, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education Connecticut State Department of Education
Dr. Judy Carson, Education Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education

Facilitator

Ms. Ingrid Canady, Executive Director, State Education Resource Center and CT Parent Information and Resource Center