THE ORACLE —
September 2019
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DIRECTOR'S CORNER
DEBRA BORRERO, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS
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Welcome Back!
We are delighted to partner with you in Open Choice and to have your district as part of our amazing learning community. I appreciate your dedication to excellence in education and look forward to working with you in supporting our children enrolled in your district through Open Choice. As you were enjoying your summer and recharging for the new school year, CREC’s Open Choice team was busy moving to a different building (111 Charter Oak Ave.) and hiring new staff.
All signs point to another incredible and productive school year. Our skilled and devoted resource specialists have already attended meetings in your schools, shared in the joy of welcoming students back during the first week and are poised and ready to support you in providing an excellent educational experience for your students and families. Our dedicated office team continue to enroll new families through September 30, address transportation questions, and prepare for upcoming events. We are indeed a compassionate team ready to connect with you and provide the support you need to integrate students into your school community in an equitable manner.
Each year brings positive change. This includes a few additions to the Open Choice staff. We are delighted to welcome:
- Kristina Jordan, Assistant Director
- Kristina Jordan has served in education for close to 20 years as a classroom teacher, education consultant, and a building and district administrator throughout Connecticut. She has experience leading climate and culture initiatives, special education law and finance, policy development, collective bargaining, staff development, equity and culturally relevant pedagogy and more
- Celia Noe, High School Resource Specialist
- Celia Noe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), she received her Master’s in Social Work from the UCONN School of Social Work in 2006. With over ten years of experience, she has worked as a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and as a School Social Worker. She draws on her expertise in several CT school districts serving elementary, middle, and high school age levels. Her most recent 11 years were with the Hartford Public Schools as well as eight years with CREC makes her a well-acquainted resource in the capitol region. She is trained in Restorative Approaches and Practices as well as TF-CBT trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and Cultural Competence. Her passion for education and serving Hartford area families continues to be her personal and professional commitment.
- Kim Guzzo, Elementary Resource Specialist
- Kim Guzzo has spent the last 25 years as an educator in Connecticut. As a classroom teacher, reading teacher, instructional coach, and social skills coach, Kim has worked to use her knowledge to build a strong academic and social skills foundation for young learners. Kim’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Hartford, a Reading Recovery Certificate from the University of Connecticut, and a Masters in Reading and Language Arts from The University of Saint Joseph. Outside of work, Kim enjoys traveling and spending time in New York City, baking, and spending time with family.
We are fortunate to have these exceptional educators join our team. Please note, our office is now located on the third floor of CREC Central at 111 Charter Oak Ave in Hartford. Please stop by to say hello or reach out to anyone of us at
http://www.crec.org/choice/contact
Thank you for your commitment to assuring that each of our students is celebrated and successful in your school. It is an honor and privilege to partner with you in this important endeavor. Together, I know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all children.
Warmest Regards,
Debra Borrero
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OPEN CHOICE SHINES!
POSITIVE STORIES FROM OPEN CHOICE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS
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The Hartford Region Open Choice team joined our schools in welcoming many of our students back to school this week. We are looking forward to a new school year with our 27 partnering districts and over 2,300 students!
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We would like to feature the excellent work and partnership we have with our Open Choice districts. Please share your brief stories about Open Choice students and their positive experiences in your school/district, along with any high resolution photos. We will share them here and on CREC's Facebook and Instagram pages. Stories can be sent to
openchoice@crec.org
Join us on social media to catch all the Open Choice buzz!!
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MARKETING AND OUTREACH MUSINGS
FROM RENITA EZELL, OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR
Open Choice (then Project Concern) Class of 1983, West Hartford
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Open Choice, in collaboration with the CT State Department of Education, superintendents and registrars, successfully registered over 300 new students. The placement process will end on September 30, 2019.
The Regional School Choice(RSCO) application and recruitment process for the 2020-2021 school year will begin on November 1, 2019. The application deadline is January 31, 2020. Siblings of currently enrolled Open Choice students receive a placement preference for available seats in their siblings’ school/district. Families must submit a RSCO application by January 31st in order to be considered for placement. For more information about the RSCO application and placement process, call the CREC Welcome Center at (860) 509-3700 or email
schoolchoice@crec.org.
SAVE THE DATE: The Open Choice Parent Recruiter Training is scheduled for
Thursday, October 17, 2019, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at 111 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. We train and provide a stipend to our parents to assist with recruiting new families to apply for Open Choice. We encourage you to identify an outstanding family/parent who can assist in supporting outreach efforts for the program and your district. This is a valuable tool in helping us increase applications for districts that have traditionally struggled with applications. For more information about the parent recruiter training, contact Renita Ezell at (860) 524-4017 or
rezell@crec.org
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TRANSPORTATION TIDBITS
FROM RUDY THOMAS, STUDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR AND TRANSPORTATION LIAISON
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As the Transportation Liaison, I am here to support you with transportation concerns: bus issues, late buses, viewing film, liaison to families, and any other transportation issues as needed.
Whatever your request (i.e. late bus, bus video, field trips, monitors, complaints) you are asked to go to our website:
www.crec.org/transportation/forms
and follow the prompts.
Once the request is submitted, you can email me the ticket number. My proximity and ongoing relationship with the transportation office, as well as my access to routes, will assist in expediting your requests. All other resources for your families can be found at
www.crec.org/transportation/rsco
For district reference, there are three other documents to support you about delayed transportation, inclement weather and district transportation contacts. Please note, the contact information is for
district use only
as there are direct lines to the transportation office, we ask that you do not share these documents or the contacts with anyone other than necessary personnel.
I am looking forward to working with you this year and feel free to contact at any time. I am here for you.
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FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NEWS
FROM CURTIS PORTER III, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
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Salutations, Partner Districts.
This year, we will have three Liaison Breakfasts to leverage these gathering times as an opportunity to interact with local community partners who will share best practices. Our breakfasts also allow us to network and continue to build supportive relationships with one another.
If you have not already, please engage with us on our social media platforms (linked above in the OPEN CHOICE SHINES section, and at the very bottom of the email). We have most recently expanded to Twitter and will start posting once we have a secure following. If your school or district does not utilize social media platforms please take a look at the latest statistical trends on where you can connect with families.
Zoom Meeting
is another platform that can be used as a one-stop-shop virtual meeting hub. We know that distance can be a hindrance for families. We have found that virtual meetings allow families to feel more connected and engaged than the traditional conference calls. This is also considered a best practice and an innovative approach to connecting all students and families.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES
FROM GLORIA MENGUAL, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COORDINATOR
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The Hartford Region Open Choice Program provides professional development, online or in-person, tailored to meet your needs in your district utilizing content area experts for low, or in some cases no, cost
This fall’s
Dine & Discuss
will feature a parent and alumni panel who will provide feedback on strengthening relationships with schools and will discuss their experiences in the program. There will be an opportunity for sharing, discussion and Q&A.
See what Open C
hoice can do for you! For more information about any of our Professi
onal Development Services, including the opportunities below, visit
www.crec.org/choice/pd
, or contact Gloria Francesca Mengual at
gmengual@crec.org
or 860-509-3768.
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Cultural Competency
Professional Development Sessions
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As the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for the Open Choice Program, I am available to provide two free days (must be taken in half or full-day allotments) of professional development to your district. Following these pro bono opportunities, fee-for-service options are available. The most commonly requested professional development sessions include:
- Storytelling as an Empathy-building Tool (1.5 – 2 hours)
- Implicit Bias in Education (1.5 – 2 hours)
- Strategies to Address Hurtful/Biased Comments or Actions in Elementary School (3 hours)
- Peeling Back the Layers: Understanding Structual Racism within Education
- Addressing Increased Conflicts through Civil Discourse in the Classroom (2 hours)
- Facilitating a Civil Discourse in the Classroom (7.5 hours)
- Co-facilitation of Student/Staff Race Dialogues – (2 days) (Educators who complete the Facilitating a Civil Discourse in the Classroom session co-facilitate with CREC staff person.)
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This three-day, (one full day per month for three consecutive months) professional learning opportunity is designed for school teams working on equity/school climate issues to attend, allowing them to move their equity goals forward.
Along with identifying the school values, behaviors, policies and practices that reflect a stage in the cultural proficiency continuum, teams will have the opportunity to hear from one principal about her efforts to apply an equity lens within her school and the outcomes to date. There also will be a Q & A session with a parent panel whose children attend suburban schools, along with the opportunity to hear student voices. The institute will culminate with a narrated bus tour to explore historic Hartford neighborhoods.
This year, the Leadership Institute will be held on
October 29, November 12 and December 5
. The $150 per person fee covers all three days of professional development, along with breakfast, lunch and the bus trip.
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September 2019
- Hot Topic Café
- September 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
- Ducks on the Ave., 572 Farmington Ave., Hartford CT 06105
October 2019
- FAFSA Orientation
- October 1, 6-7 p.m.
- CREC Central, Room 101, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06016
- OC Liaison Meeting
- October 3, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- CREC Central, Council Room, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06016
- Hot Topic Café
- October 10, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Know Good Market, 300 Bartholomew Ave., Hartford, CT 06106
- Parent Recruiter Meeting
- October 17, 6-7 p.m.
- CREC Central, Room 101, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06016
- Dine & Discuss Day 1
- October 16, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
- TBA
- Directors of Special Education Breakfast
- October 23, 8:30-10 a.m.
- CREC Central, Room 202, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06016
- Family Literacy Night
- October 23, 5:30-7 p.m.
- CREC Central, Room 202, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06016
- Leadership Institute Day 1
- October 29, 8 a.m-3 p.m.
- Room 310, 55 Van Dyke Ave., Hartford, CT 06106
- Dine & Discuss Day 2
- October 30, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
- TBA
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Hartford Region Open Choice Program
111 Charter Oak Ave., 3rd Floor
Hartford, CT 06016
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