Acknowledgments
Numerous professionals contributed to the development of these guidelines. It was through their leadership, hard work, dedication and persistence that this document has become a resource to address and promote guidance to school districts on alternative education settings in Connecticut. Special recognition is offered to Dr. Wendy Waithe Simmons, Director of Development at the State Education Resource Center, who facilitated the work of the Alternative Schools Committee. The following individuals contributed to the work:
- Jennifer Berigan, Connecticut American Federation of Teachers
- Maureen Bransfield, New Horizons (New Haven)
- Marilyn Calderon, CT Parent Power
- Joe Cirasuolo, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
- Lynn Cochrane, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc.
- Kelt Cooper, New Britain Public Schools
- Christopher Cordima, Legislative Commissioners Office
- Chaka Felder-McEntire, Higher Heights YEP, Inc.
- Cathy Foley Geib, Assistant Director of Program & Staff Development - Connecticut Judicial Branch
- Jennifer Fredricks, Connecticut Voices for Children
- Dolores Garcia-Blocker, New Haven Public Schools
- Theresa Hopkins-Staten, Connecticut State Board of Education
- Sarah Iverson, Connecticut Voices for Children
- Billy Johnson, New Haven Public Schools
- Rachel Leventhal-Weiner, Connecticut Voices for Children
- Sheila McKay, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
- Rob Melillo, Connecticut Association of Alternative Schools & Programs
- Jaquita Monroe, Court Support Services Division
- Richard Murray, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
- Karissa Neihoff, Connecticut Association of Schools
- Randall Prose, Windham Federation of Teachers
- Agata Raszczyk-Lawska, Connecticut Legal Services
- Jason Rojas, Connecticut General Assembly
- Ray Rossomando, Connecticut Education Association
- Bill Scalise, Connecticut Association of Alternative Schools & Programs
- Ellen Shemitz, Connecticut Voices for Children
- Wendy Waithe Simmons, State Education Resource Center
- Leon Smith, Center for Children’s Advocacy
- Matha Stone, Center for Children’s Advocacy
- John Tarka, New Horizons (New Haven)
- John Tindall-Gibson, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
- Stephen Tracy, Department of Children & Families
- Mark Waxenberg, Connecticut Education Association
The following Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) colleagues contributed to the Guidelines document development:
- Pamela Charland, Assistant to the State Board of Education
- Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Chief Performance Officer
- Colleen Hayles, Education Consultant, Bureau of Special Education
- Mark Linabury, Chief, Bureau of Choice Programs
- Diane Murphy, Education Consultant, Performance Office
- Scott Newgass, Education Consultant, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education
- Isabelina Rodriguez, Interim Chief Academic Officer
- Sergio Rodriguez, Education Staff Assistant, Bureau of Special Education
- Charlene Russell-Tucker, Chief Operating Officer
- Norma Sproul, Education Consultant, Bureau of Special Education (retired)