Quality Education Through Collaboration

2014 - 2015

Annual Report

www.ces.k12.ct.us

With a strong commitment from a diverse and highly qualified staff, Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.) is the primary educational resource for the communities we serve. We are a model of leadership promoting a community of life-long learning. We assure student success through regional collaboration, leadership, resources, and support.

Each year we strive to realize our vision by being the first point of contact for our member districts related to any kind of educational service. In order to accomplish this we will continue our research and development efforts to remain on the cutting edge of the programs, services and technical assistance that we offer. Excellent communication with our members and our partners, along with continued strong support from the Representative Council, will guide and assist us on this journey.

• Every student has a right to high-quality education.• Student-centered instruction recognizes the individual abilities of each

learner.• The unique cultural and developmental differences of our students are

recognized and valued.• Partnerships among families, schools, communities, and state

agencies are essential for the achievement of common goals and conservation of financial services.

• Leadership, communication, innovation, and creative thinking promote positive change and growth.

• Every educator has the responsibility to be a life-long learner.• The commitment of our dedicated staff is valued.• Our effectiveness as an organization contributes to our clients’

success.• It is important to reflect upon and continually evaluate the services we

provide.• It is important to nurture growth of progressive learning and

communities.• Every staff member represents the mission, core beliefs, and vision of

C.E.S.

Our mission is to identify and provide quality educational opportunities for educators, students, families, and communities.

Mission

Vision

Guiding Beliefs

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From the Executive Director

Psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D., stated “Potential is not an endpoint but a capacity to grow and learn.” At Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.), we offer the school programs, professional development, and technical assistance to help students, educators, and other adult learners turn their potential into improved life-long learning and growth.

C.E.S. is the capacity building partner for school districts in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut to provide their educators and leaders with the cutting-edge training to best prepare students for the 21st century. Our leadership team, educational specialists and consultants provide the guidance, instruction and technical assistance to further enhance the capacity of school districts to meet their continuous improvement goals in a changing world. The 17 districts in our catchment area comprise a public school enrollment in excess of 119,000 students.

We fulfill our mission to identify and provide quality educational opportunities for educators, students, families and communities by providing a myriad of high quality services to member districts that would be more costly for them to procure on their own. Examples include special educational transportation and audiological services. Likewise, we can provide the capacity to assist school districts with short-term or one-time projects such as enrollment studies, executive searches, special education audits, and any other projects that arise. Furthermore, our Professional Development Services (PDS) team is a district resource for grant coordination, inter-district summer school programs, specialized staff development to reach district goals and training to meet the requirements of state and federal educational initiatives.

C.E.S. also serves as a model for direct educational programs via our School Readiness program, extensive Special Education and related services programs, remedial and enrichment summer programs and our interdistrict magnet schools (Six to Six Magnet School and the Regional Center for the Arts). All told, we have more than a thousand students from the region attending our specialized C.E.S. school programs.

C.E.S. is well-regarded throughout the state for its high quality programs and professional development services. Now, more than ever, it is critical that all school districts take action to build internal capacity, find cost efficiencies and maximize the impact of every dollar spent to support student growth and achievement. C.E.S. is the “go to” resource to help area districts achieve these goals.

Sincerely,

Evan Pitkoff, Ed.D.

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Evan Pitkoff, Ed.D.Executive Director

Christopher La BelleAssociate Executive Director

James R. CarrollChief Financial & Operations Officer

Esther BobowickDirector, Professional Development Services

Mark Ribbens, Ed.D.Principal, Regional Center for the ArtsOpen Choice Coordinator

Linda PageDirector, School Readiness Preschool

Anna Nelmes-StoughtonPrincipal, Six to Six Magnet School

Michael F. Regan, Ph.D.Director of Special Education

C.E.S. Leadership

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LocationsCentral Offices40 Lindeman DriveTrumbull, CT 06611(203) 365-8803www.ces.k12.ct.us

Regional Center for the Arts23 Oakview DriveTrumbull, CT 06611(203) 365-8857www.ces.k12.ct.us/RCA

School Readiness40 Lindeman DriveTrumbull, CT 06611(203) 365-8997www.ces.k12.ct.us/SchoolReadiness

Six to Six Magnet School601 Pearl Harbor Street Bridgeport, CT 06610(203) 365-8200www.ces.k12.ct.us/SixtoSix

Special Education Division25 Oakview Drive & 40 Lindeman DriveTrumbull, CT 06611(203) 365-8840www.ces.k12.ct.us/SPED

www.ces.k12.ct.us

C.E.S. 5k Race - October 2014

Representative Council

Executive Director

Associate Executive Director’s Office

Administrative Services

ProfessionalDevelopment Services

Regional Centerfor the Arts

School Readiness Preschool

Six to Six Magnet School

Special Education

Public Relations & Marketing

Open Choice

Certification & LicensingEmployee Evaluation

PersonnelSpecial Projects

Strategic PlanningTurnaround Schools

AccountingBenefitsFacilities

FingerprintingFiscal Services

Technology ServicesTransportation Services

Curriculum & InstructionEarly Childhood Initiatives

Interdistrict Programs & ServicesThe Leadership Institute

Minority Recruiting & Data CollectionPBIS TrainingSEED Training

Technology Training

Half Day Performing Arts Magnet School, 9-12

Pre-school for Bridgeport children

Before/After School ProgramsFamily Resource Center

Pre-K, K-5, 6-8Coordination for students to attend schools outside their home districts

Critical Response & Intevention Sevices in Schools (CRISIS)

Communication ServicesExecutive Search Services

Audiological ServicesBeginnings (Birth to Three)

Behavioral Psychology ServicesDevelopmental Learning Center

Preschool-Primary Learning CenterRegional Assistive Technology Center

RISE Program (18-21)Special Education In-Service Activities

Special Education Related ServicesTherapeutic Day Program

2014-2015 Organizational Chart

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Goal 1: To improve services and expand participation in C.E.S.ObjectiveTo develop partnerships and collaborative efforts with other

agencies and organizations.

ObjectiveTo foster inter-district collaborative efforts in order to increase

scales of efficiencies.

Goal 2: To improve academic, social and emotional learning for all students in C.E.S. programsObjectiveTo improve the use of data to inform instructional and

programmatic decision-making.ObjectiveTo promote a positive school climate through the continued

application of school-wide positive behavioral supports.

Goal 3: To provide leadership and advocacy related to educational policy issues and associated guidelinesObjectiveTo leverage partnerships with federal, state and local decision-

makers and stakeholders to impact educational policy and

guidelines favorable to constitutent needs.

Goal 4: To provide personal and professional growth opportunities for those who work in the educational communityObjectiveTo retain competent and experienced staff at C.E.S.

ObjectiveTo explore and expand alternative professional development

models to address the needs of C.E.S., individuals districts

and community-based organizations.

Agency Goals

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BRIDGEPORTSauda Baraka,Jacqueline Kelleher, Ph.D. (Vice President)

DARIENCallie Sullivan

EASTON/REGION 9Chris Hocker,Jeff Parker (Alternate)

FAIRFIELDPhilip Dwyer,John Llewellyn

GREENWICHDebbie Appelbaum

MONROEAmy Primorac

NEW CANAANVacant

NORWALKMike Barbis

RIDGEFIELDVacant

SHELTONArlene Liscinsky (President),Tom Minotti (Alternate)

STAMFORDDolores Burgess

STRATFORDTerri Sheehy,Leonard Petruccelli (Alternate)

TRUMBULLMichael C. Ward (Secretary)

WESTONNina Daniel

WESTPORTBrett Aronow

WILTONChristine Finkelstein

Member Districts

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At Cooperative Educational Services we believe in the process of continuous improvement. Each year we adjust our programming to meet the needs of our member districts. As a result, gathering data to evaluate our success and determine our focus and priorities is a continuous process at C.E.S. We hold council meetings for various education professionals such as special education directors, curriculum specialists, assistant superintendents, school principals, subject area specialists, human resources personnel, and technology coordinators. During these council meetings we solicit feedback from our members to help us determine future initiatives. The executive director also meets monthly with the C.E.S. Representative Council, and with the superintendents of member districts. All of the divisions at C.E.S. hold meetings with their constituents so that our services are customized to meet the unique needs of each district.

The Leadership Institute at C.E.S., which is a separate entity comprised of leaders from our participating member districts, meets quarterly to address the continuum of leadership needs from teacher leadership to administrative leadership. Through dialogue with the Leadership Institute Board, we are able to establish programs and support that reflect the needs of our member districts.

Each year, our Special Education division solicits feedback from parents, and our Six to Six Magnet School meets regularly with

the School Planning and Management Team (SPMT), which includes both parents and staff. The Regional Center for the Arts (RCA) has an active parent advisory group supporting fundraising efforts and all of RCA’s student productions. We are also in continuous contact with representatives from the State Department of Education in order to assist our districts with state mandates such as school improvement plans, policy development, and teacher and administrator evaluation models.

As a service center, we must always be prepared to assist our districts according to their individual needs. We compile an annual profile of our member districts that includes their goals, school data reports, comprehensive school improvement plans, and additional relevant information to further customize our services. Often state or federal mandates, or economic conditions determine needs. We strive to provide lower cost, high quality options to satisfy the needs of our member districts. The Leadership Team at C.E.S. is comprised of the executive director, the associate executive director, director of special education, the chief financial and operations officer, the director of our Professional Development Services division, the directors of our magnet schools and the director of our School Readiness program. Our team meets collectively and individually with key constituents to obtain recommendations in planning future programs and services.

Meeting Needs for Our Member Districts

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Special EducationThis year, the Division of Special Education completed a spe-cial education program assessment and audit for the Oxford Public Schools. This new service seeks to collaborate with part-ner districts to identify potential barriers and, more important-ly, key assets that lend support to both capacity building and student success. The Preschool-Primary Learning Center (PLC) and Developmental Learning Center (DLC) expanded work in SCERTS and Developmental Therapy during the school year. In October, the Developmental Therapy Institute invited program administrators to attend a two-day “Moving into the Future” Leadership Summit, held in Georgia. Dr. Barry Prizant worked with attendees on refining the use of transactional supports and emotional regulation within the SCERTS model. The Ther-apeutic Day Program (TDP) fully implemented Review 360 (a multi-tiered behavioral software system) and piloted the evi-denced-based literacy program, Language Live!,at the second-ary level. Through a community partnership with Sacred Heart University, the RISE Transition Program continued to provide comprehensive, community-based transition services to stu-dents ages 18-21. TDP also relocated to 40 Lindeman Drive.

Regional Center for the ArtsThe continuous improvement of the RCA program is based on three elements: a challenging sequential curriculum, high quality daily instruction with artist/teachers, and the presence of a motivated diverse group of students who are ready to access this course of study. Curriculum work focused on the articulation between different courses within departments as RCA continues to analyze and adjust curriculum in anticipation of the adoption of new art standards in the State of Connecticut. Instructional work focused on artist/teacher residencies in musical theater and in dance. Students in those disciplines collaborated with both our regular staff and the guest artist/teachers to push themselves artistically and to create memorable performances.

School ReadinessC.E.S. School Readiness opened its doors to 90 Bridgeport preschoolers this school year due to the award of 36 additional slots to the program. These slots were granted from Governor Malloy’s allocation of 1,020 additional School Readiness opportunities for low-income children throughout Connecticut. The center underwent a major renovation, adding two new classrooms, two observation rooms, and a storage area. The observation rooms will accommodate graduate and undergraduate students from area colleges who are studying and researching early child development.

School Readiness teachers will use the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) to plan their learning experience plans. Training will be offered to staff in the specific domains of the CT ELDS. The Connecticut Preschool

Assessment Framework will continue to be used as our assessment tool throughout the school year. Six to Six Magnet SchoolThis past year, Six to Six prioritized developing performance-based assessments and revising standards-based report cards to align with the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Staff worked tirelessly to revise the Language Arts and Mathematics curricula and design integrated units of study across the disciplines. Six to Six continues to focus on data-driven decision making, differentiated instruction, and tiered interventions and supports to ensure student growth. Students continued to demonstrate growth based on curriculum-based assessments in all content areas.

Professional Development ServicesDuring the 2014-15 year, the needs of the districts served by PDS continued to shift. In schools, the focus remained on implementing the changes in curriculum using the Common Core, new formative assessments, refining educator evaluation processes, and professional development planning to bring new skills, knowledge, mastery, and student results to educators. PDS provided customized services to address these priorities. In terms of regional collaboration, implementation of STEM was a new focus, resulting in a three-day STEM Institute in June with 45 educators participating. Two cohorts of district teams spent the year using a systems approach designed to transforming library media centers.

PDS’ emphasis on Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) demonstrated belief in alignment of instruction and student success in academic growth. PDS expanded its look at behavior through two different sessions on social emotional learning. Dr. Marc Brackett from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence offered one of the sessions to senior administrators. The other session offered teachers brain research on mindfulness and strategies to help students self-regulate their behavior. A final change in emphasis was in teacher evaluation and assisting districts to shift their attention to the support and growth side of teacher performance.

Changes in our Program Emphases

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Marc Brackett poses with C.E.S. PDS Director Esther Bobowick (right) and staff from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

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Special EducationThe goal of the division of Special Education is to remain on the cutting edge of technical changes that directly impact the delivery of specialized instruction to students with disabilities. The division will provide high quality training experiences focusing on all aspects of service delivery, including evaluation of Student and Educator Support Staff (SESS), leadership development, data-based decision making, school improvement, assistive technology, and clinical assessment practices.

This will be the second year that a training program for the Registered Behavior Technician credential will be offered. ADOS-2 training will be expanded to include a component for early childhood service providers. Through our partnership with the Leir Foundation, the division will present with Dr. Aubyn C. Stahmer from the University of California, San Diego in understanding the use of evidence based practices in community services for children with autism.

Regional Center for the ArtsRCA will continue to work on three elements of continuous improvement. Curriculum work will be focused on analyzing specific courses in anticipation of the adoption of new standards by the State of Connecticut. Instructional work will be focused on potentially working with an artist/teacher in residence for theatre. The program will focus on continuing to attract students who would most benefit from the Regional Center for the Arts.

School ReadinessSchool Readiness will be implementing the Second Step curriculum in each classroom beginning in August, 2015. A generous grant from the C.E.S. Foundation enabled the purchase of this structured program, which will focus on social-emotional skills for early learners. Families are also included in the lessons through weekly handouts and other resources. This research-based curriculum provides teaching strategies for social-emotional skills, friendship and problem-solving skills, skills for learning, and self-regulation, as well as online resources for teachers and families.

Six to Six Magnet SchoolSix to Six will continue to align curriculum with the Common Core State Standards with a priority focus on science and social studies standards in 2015-16. It is essential to continue aligning current assessment practices with the new expectations for student learning based on the CCSS.

Professional Development ServicesThis year, PDS will continue to work with districts on creating effective professional learning plans. New Connecticut Standards for Professional Learning will be introduced and PDS will assist districts with creating standards-based professional learning opportunities that go beyond the single workshop model.

PDS assists districts with using the many new tools and resources for implementing the Common Core Standards, such as the Digital Library and the new state interim assessments. For the first time, schools will see the results from the new state Smarter Balance tests. PDS will be prepared to assist with examining this data in order to use classroom instruction to support all students.

PDS is continuing the “Re-Imagining Your Library Media Center” initiative through a second year of training for the schools that participated last year. This is a two-year planning and implementation initiative. In year two, school teams will meet to implement the district plans from the prior year, and in the process, transform school libraries into learning commons.

Other new initiatives are in the final planning stages, such as initiating a curriculum consortium for the the new Social Studies Standards that the State Board of Education recently approved. Professional learning is also planned to address the gaps in teaching reading, utilizing district feedback and data from the new state Reading assessments.

PDS will also begin a new School Counselor network to allow regional counselors to network and collaborate strategies and resources related to social emotional learning for students. PDS will continue to deepen the professional development and leadership training for the two Bridgeport schools identified Commissioner’s network as “Turnaround Schools” in 2015-16 as part of a multiyear improvement plan.

Changes in the Future

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A ABCO the Paperman • Abilis • Abilities Without Boundaries • Ability Beyond • All Electric Construction • American Medical Response • American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield • Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut • Aquarion Water Company • ARI in Stamford • Arts for Healing • Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) • Autism Spectrum Resource Center

BThe Bagel • The Bagel King • Barnes & Noble • Beardsley Zoo • Best Buddies • Board of Education Services for the Blind • Boys & Girls Village • Blanchette’s Sporting Goods • Bounce You • Bridge House • Bridgeport Alliance for Young Children • Bridgeport Bluefish • Bridgeport BOE Early Childhood Consultation Center • Bridgeport BOE Early Childhood Dept. • Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition • Bridgeport Child Guidance • Bridgeport Family Resource Center Network • Bridgeport City Hall • Bridgeport Fire Department • Bridgeport Higher Education Alliance • Bridgeport Hospital • Bridgeport Parks Department • Bridgeport Police Department • Bridgeport Public Library • Bridgeport Regional Business Council • Bridgeport Sound Tigers • Bridgeport YMCA • Mary Budrawich • Bullard Havens Regional Voc-Tech School • Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (Bridgeport, Norwalk & Stamford) • Burger King (Bridgeport) C Cardinal Sheehan Center • Care 4 Kids • Casey Family Services • Center for Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders • Central CT State University/ITBD • C.E.S. Foundation • Charter Oak State College • Chartwells • Cheshire Fitness Zone • Dr. Robert Chessin • Child & Family Network • Child First • Child Guidance Center of Southern CT • Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics • Chili’s (Shelton) • Christ Church (Stamford) • Coalition for Women and Families • Cathie Collier, R.D.H. • Commerce Park Dental Group • Conner Printing • Corwin A Sage Company • CT Assoc. for the Education of Young Children • CT Assoc. of Interdistrict Magnet Schools • CT Association of School Personnel Administrators (CASPA) • CT Autism Society • CT Ballet • CT Charts-A-Course • CT Children’s Museum (New Haven) • CT Dept. of Labor • CT Historical Society • CT Institute for Sustainable Energy • CT Office of Early Childhood • CT Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc., Inc. • CT State Department of Education • CT Storytelling Center • CT Technical High School System • CT Parenting Education Network • CT Works • Coordinated Transportation Services • Courage to Speak Foundation, Inc.; • Crossroads Pizza • Crown Plaza Hotel • CVS (Bridgeport)

DDattco Bus • Dept. of Children and Families • Dept. of Developmental Services • Dept. of Mental Health & Addictions • Dept. of Social Services • Developmental Therapy-Teaching Programs (The University of Georgia, Athens) • Disability Resource Center • Downtown Cabaret Theatre

E Eastern CT State University • Educational Development Center • Emergency Care Institute • Eagle Hill School • Early Childhood Consultation Partnership/Catholic Charities • Eli Whitney Museum

FFairfield Business Alliance • Fairfield Pizza • Fairfield Prep • Fairfield Public Library • Fairfield University • Family Resource Center • Family Services Woodfield • Farm on Wheels • Federation Assoc. of CT • First Book, Fairfield County • Fit-Tek • Fone’s School of Dental Hygiene • Fordham University • FYE

GDr. Cornelia Gallo • Gateway Community College • Giove’s (Trumbull) • Goodwill Industries (Bridgeport) • Gorton Zumba • Stephanie Gottwald (Tufts University) • Dr. Michael Grau (Pearson Education) • Greater Bridgeport Director’s Network • Greater Bridgeport Mental Health • Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra • Greater Bridgeport Transit (GBT) • Greater Bridgeport/Trumbull Headstart Center • Greenwich Autism Center

HHabitat for Humanity (Bridgeport) • Hallbrook Intensive Outpatient and Hospital • Myra Healy • The Hope Center • Housatonic Community College

IIrene’s Flower Shop • It’s About Time

J Jason Project • Jennie’s Pizza (Monroe) • The Jesse Lewis Foundation • JobCorps • Juvenile Probation (Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, Norwalk)

K Dr. Steven Kant • The Kennedy Center • Kenneth Boroson Architects • Kids in Crisis of Greenwich • Kidsense Pediatric Therapy

LLiz Lanter (Radford University) • The Leir Retreat Center • The Lighthouse Program • Lilian Butler Davies Foundation • Linda’s Storytime • Long Wharf Theatre

MThe Mabel Fischer Grant Foundation • Mad Science of Fairfield & New Haven County • Make A Wish Foundation • Maritime Aquarium • Marrakech, Inc. • Marshall’s (Bridgeport) • Mayer-Johnson • Mayor’s Summer Youth Program • Merit Insurance • MetLife Special Needs Planning • Middlebrook Farms • Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center • Monroe Police Dept. • Monroe Public Library • Music Together of Norwalk/Newtown LLC • Mystic Aquarium

NNASA • NAEYC • Northeastern Technology • Norwalk Community College • Norwalk Transit

District • Notre Dame High School • Nutmeg Bowling • Nutmeg Dry Cleaners (Danbury) O OB/GYN of Fairfield County LLC

PPapillon • Parent Center of Bridgeport • PE2 • Pearson Education • Pediatric Health Care Associates • People’s United Bank • Phoenix Academy • Planned Parenthood • Plymouth Early Childhood Council • PMT Associates, Inc. • Porter and Chester Institute • Prevent Blindness Tri-State • Dr. Barry Prizant • Professional Placement Resources LLC • Project Return • Prospects Program • Pyramid Educational Consultants

RRead to Grow, Inc. • Rehabilitation Associates • RESC Assistive Technology Alliance • Resources for Human Development-RHD • Dr. Barbara Rickler • Cathy Riggs (Project Learn) • Roses for Autism

SSacred Heart University • School Chapters • SERC • Sergio’s Pizza • Dr. Richard Shapiro • Shipman & Goodwin • Dr. Philip Simkovitz • Southern CT State University • Spurwink Services • STAR, Inc. • St. Joseph’s Center • St. Saviour’s Church Nursery School • St. Vincent’s Hospital • St. Vincent’s Special Needs Center • Stamford Child Guidance • Stew Leonard’s (Norwalk) • Stop & Shop (Bridgeport, Fairfield, Trumbull) • Stratford Community Services • Stratford Police Department • Stratford Theatre

T Teachers’ College/Columbia University • Trumbull Chamber of Commerce • Trumbull Congregational Church • Trumbull Fire Dept. • Trumbull/Monroe Health Dept. • Trumbull Mobile Veterinary Clinic • Trumbull Police Dept. • Trumbull Public Library • Trumbull Rotary Club

UUnited Way of Coastal Fairfield County • University of Bridgeport • UCONN College of Agriculture and National Resources • University of New Haven • UCLA-SMP • University of Oregon • UNO’s Chicago Grill

V Vazzy’s

WWade’s Dairy • Wellness Zone (Bridgeport) • Westchester Family Institute • Western CT State University • Westport Country Playhouse

Y Yale Child Study Center • Yale New Haven Hospital • Yale University School of Medicine • Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Business Center • Youthworks

Interagency Relationships

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RCA is a part-time interdistrict magnet schools located in Trumbull. RCA seeks to bring together high school students of diverse cultural heritage to develop in all students the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and self-discipline to reach their fullest artistic potential, to live a productive life, and to contribute to society as creative, engaged citizens.

RCA offers its students the opportunity to develop their creative potential by working with performers who are also teachers. The twin aim is for students to better understand themselves and others, as well as to expose them to the skills and techniques they will need in a career in the performing arts. After taking academic classes at their home high school, students attend

RCA classes from 1:30-4:45 p.m.

During the 2014-15 school year, students studied dance, theater, music, video production, and musical theater. They demonstrated their learning in 27 public performances of 17 separate productions in either the main theater or small black box theater.

RCA’s parent organization, Parents or Performing Students (PoPS), is an active partner in supporting students. Among other activities, PoPS awards scholarships to college bound seniors who are majoring in the performing arts.

The Open Choice program is an interdistrict program with the goal of improving academic achievement, reducing racial, ethnic, and economic isolation, and providing a choice of educational programs for students enrolled in public schools. Through Open Choice, a student may attend a school outside of his or her home district.

Participating school districts annually declare how many seats may be available, and students are chosen through a lottery from the pool of applicants. For the 2014-15 school year, there

were nearly 700 applications for 32 openings. Once placed in a school district, students continue in that district until graduation from high school.

Last year, 212 students from Bridgeport were enrolled in the school districts of Easton/ Region 9, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, and Westport through Open Choice. Also, 24 suburban students attended the Bridgeport Military Academy through Open Choice.

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C.E.S. School Readiness is a full-day, full-year NAEYC accredited childcare program serving 90 Bridgeport children between the ages of 2.9 and 5 years. The school is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 50 weeks per year. Each child is required to attend a minimum of six hours each day.

Program philosophy centers on the belief that each child is a unique learner with his/her own cultural identity, learning style, temperament, and developmental pattern. Each of these factors influences how each child learns and grows; development and learning are interconnected in the preschool years. School Readiness believes that each child’s family is an important partner in the daily care and education of their children. A Family

Advisory Board meets throughout the year to discuss policies, procedures, curriculum, and family advocacy supports the program’s mission.

Teachers strive to know each child as an individual and to work in partnership with the family to know, understand, and plan appropriate learning experiences for each child in their care. C.E.S. School Readiness uses The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, a comprehensive curriculum which focuses on the child’s growth and development in the personal/social, physical, cognitive, and creative domains. Staff also utilizes the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards and The Connecticut Preschool Assessment Frameworks to plan for and assess each individual child.

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C.E.S. School Readiness expanded its program in the Fall of 2014 to a capacity of 90 students. The school, located at 40 Lindeman Drive in Trumbull, cut the ribbon on the expansion in September. Pictured from left to right are Trum-bull First Selectman Tim Herbst, C.E.S. Chief Financial and Operations Officer James Carroll, School Readiness Direc-tor Linda Page, C.E.S. Representatice Council President Arlene Liscinsky, C.E.S. Representative Council member Tom Minotti, Bridgeport Interim Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz, C.E.S. Executive Director Dr. Evan Pitkoff, and Representative Council Secretary Michael Ward.

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The Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School is a regional magnet school serving students from the age of three years through eighth grade. The magnet focus is mathematics, science, and technology. Six to Six has developed long-standing partnerships with the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, the Eli Whitney Museum, and the Goldstone Apple Valley Remote Telescope program through NASA.

Six to Six has adopted the Comer/Zigler model (CoZi) of school governance and family support. The School Planning and Management Team (SPMT) consists of representatives from all constituencies. The SPMT has led initiatives on the development of the School Improvement Plan, school-family-community partnerships, and school procedures. The Family Resource Center provides parenting workshops, toddler playgroups, and individualized family assistance conferences.

The school is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide high quality before and after school care, hence its name as the Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School.

Six to Six understands that the social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum. Therefore, the school incorporates classroom strategies that bring together social and academic learning throughout the day through the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and Responsive Classroom.

Enrollment at Six to Six is through an application/lottery process that was developed to ensure diversity in the student population. In 2014-15, there were 471 students enrolled at the school.

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Special Education Programs within the Division offer a variety of specialized services for students with significant disabilities. These programs provide both school-based centers for students 3-21 years of age with developmental and emotional disabilities, as well as a Birth to Three early intervention program. The Division is also responsive to district needs for program development.

In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Division of Special Education:• Provided special education placements for 359 students

age three to 21 years of age with developmental and emotional disabilities.

• Provided extended year services to 249 students.• Provided early intervention services to 148 infants and

toddlers and their families.

Preschool-Primary Learning Center(PLC)PLC offers a special education program alternative for students 3-12 years of age who fall within the Autism Spectrum Disorder continuum. PLC utilizes a low student to staff ratio program design, positive behavioral support, functional communication training, many transactional supports inclusive of extensive use of visual supports, sensory diets, academic and functional academic instruction, and highly trained lead-support instructional teams. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Preschool-Primary Learning Center served 56 students from 12 school districts.

Developmental Learning Center (DLC)DLC is an intensive special education program for students 12-21 years of age with significant developmental disabilities such as autism, neurological impairments, pervasive developmental disorders, and intellectual disorders with and without challenging behaviors. DLC offers both a middle and high school component which focus on applied academics; development of functional skills; communication and social skill development; pre-vocational/vocational training; and development of recreational/leisure skills via both a variety of center-based and community-based instructional experiences. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Developmental Learning Center served 96 students from 21 school districts.

Therapeutic Day Program (TDP)TDP is a regional special education program for students from grades K-12 who present with a variety of significant behavioral and emotional disabilities. TDP offers a comprehensive treatment approach that includes educational, psychological, psychiatric, and parent counseling/support services aimed at improving student’s overall functioning. It utilizes a highly structured learning environment, low staff to student ratios, and intensive school-based therapeutic services to effectively build and develop each student’s academic, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Therapeutic Day Program served 207 students from 27 different school districts.

Reaching Independence through Supported Education (RISE)RISE is a regional special education program for students with limited cognitive functioning, 18 to 21 years of age, held on the campus of Sacred Heart University. This program provides students with opportunities to develop vocational, social, and personal management skills through a variety of campus and community-based transition activities. In 2014-15, the RISE Transition Program provided placements for 13 students from five school districts.

Special Education School-Based Programs

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Teacher of the Year

Stacey Cronk, a Preschool-Primary special education teacher who works with students who fall within the Autism Spec-trum Disorder continuum at Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.), has C.E.S. Teacher of the Year and nominee for Con-necticut Teacher of the Year for 2015.

Benjamin Megna, an educational instructor in the C.E.S. Pre-school-Primary Learning Center, was named Paraeducator of the Year. Ben, who was hired in 2009, has worked with kids of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Teacher of the year Stacey Cronk and C.E.S. Executive Director Dr. Evan Pitkoff

BeginningsBeginnings is a Birth to Three program that provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The multidisciplinary staff travels to families’ homes, child care programs and other community based activities to provide services. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Beginnings provided services to 148 infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families from seven towns.

Behavioral Psychology ServicesBehavioral Psychology Services involves the delivery of assessment, consultation, and training services via C.E.S. specialists in the areas of applied behavioral analysis and positive behavior interaction and support. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Behavioral Psychology Services provided training, technical assistance, and monthly consultation to classrooms for students with autism for six districts.

Audiological ServicesAudiological Services provides audiological evaluations, auditory processing evaluations, and classroom consultation

for students referred by school districts. In 2014-15, C.E.S.’ Audiological Services Program provided 130 evaluations and reevaluations to students from 16 districts.

Regional Assistive Technology CenterRegional Assistive Technology Center provides evaluation and consultation services to school district staff to assist in determining technology needs for their students. In 2014-15, the C.E.S. Regional Assistive Technology Center provided 57 evaluations to students from 14 districts.

Professional Development ServicesProfessional Development Services responds to local school district needs for inservice training/workshops on a variety of topics related to special education, such as physical management training (PMT), ADOS-2, and continuing education for Board Certificate Behavior Analysts. In 2014-15, Professional Development Services provided five Physical Management Training (PMT) sessions to 137 staff members from C.E.S. and 10 area districts.

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Expansions and Renovations

Special Education Related Services

The fall of 2014 was a momentous season for Cooperative Educational Services, especially at the main office at 40 Lin-deman Drive in Trumbull. C.E.S. completed its renovations for the expanded School Readiness Program as well as the Therapeutic Day Program (TDP). On the left, School Readiness Director Linda Page speaks at the ribbon-cutting for the program’s expansion to 90 Bridgeport students. On the right, Special Education Director Dr. Michael Regan tours the TDP renovation with RCA Director Dr. Mark Ribbens.

PDS offered 69 workshops in 2014-15, on a variety of topics including math, science, curriculum design, literacy, assessment, implementing Common Core Standards, educator evaluation, social emotional learning, and STEM. A total of 870 educators from the region registered to take part in the workshops offered. PDS continues to pursue a research focus with Yale University in the area of early childhood and preschool education. PDS hosted three CSDE Language Arts Council meetings as well as four regional Mathematics, Science, and Technology Councils meetings. The new Library Media Specialist Council held five meetings this year. C.E.S. coordinated statewide registrations for district membership in CTREAP, with a total of 205 schools and districts registered to use the employment recruitment service.

RESC Alliance Collaborative Projects • RESC Alliance Minority Teacher Recruitment Scholarships• Training and technical assistance on teacher observation and feedback to all our districts • Training Wheels Preschool Frameworks Training• Title III funded professional development workshops for ELL and non-ELL teachers • Development of training for the Digital Library

Regional Councils • Curriculum Council • Early Childhood Council • Language Arts Council • Library Media Specialists • Mathematics Council • Science Curriculum Council • Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) District Facilitators • Technology Coordinators• Professional Development Services

Literacy PDS had an ongoing focus on literacy, with the new expectations coming from the Connecticut Core Standards. This year, PDS provided customized sessions in schools that modeled classroom lessons to demonstrate the key instructional shifts within the Connecticut Core Standards. National literacy specialist Dr. Nancy Boyles led a key session on understanding what the SBAC test is assessing in literacy.

The Leadership Institute at C.E.S. The Leadership Institute at C.E.S. sponsored continued professional development workshops for administrators on Teacher Evaluation and held the following professional development programs: • New Administrator Induction Program Year One and New Administrator Induction Program Year Two • Administrator Aspirant Program • The 9th Annual Academy for Teacher Leadership at C.E.S. welcomed 20 teachers and leaders from five districts. The Leadership Institute also held four board meetings and sponsored an administrator training with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

TEAM: Teacher Education and Mentoring C.E.S. TEAM Field Staffer Lyn Nevins contacted every district facilitator in the C.E.S. region monthly regarding programs, support, and strategy. She was also the lead trainer during the creation of both the online version of the Reviewer Update and the new online Mentor Update. PDS provided varied services that are key to the successful implementation of the TEAM programs in Connecticut Schools, including:: • Seven Mentor Update sessions • Five three-day initial support trainings• Four Reflection Paper Reviewer Update trainings • Orientation trainings/ information sessions in the following districts for beginning teachers and mentors: Bridgeport (2), Darien, Easton, Fairfield (2), Monroe, Norwalk (2), Redding, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford (2), Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton (2).

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PEER at LeirThe Partnership for Early Educational Research (PEER) - a research partnership of Yale University, the Education Development Center (EDC), and C.E.S - held a forum in May of 2015 at the Leir Retreat Center in Ridgefield. Pictured: Yale research associate Joanna Meyer, EDC research associate Claire Irwin, Yale Center for Emo-tional Intelligence scientist Dr. Michael Strambler, State Education Commissioner Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell, EDC Director of Research, Evaluation, and Policy Jill Weber, C.E.S. consultant and past State Education Commissioner George Coleman, and C.E.S. Executive Director Dr. Evan Pitkoff.

Early Childhood C.E.S. Early Childhood (EC) staff provided monitoring, training, consultation, technical assistance, and coaching to a variety of early care and early childhood education programs throughout the region. Such programs included Head Start, School Readiness, state-funded child care, district preschool, and infant programs that serve children of all abilities from infancy through age five. The EC program specialists worked with C.E.S. Consultant and former Connecticut Education Commissioner George Coleman to develop three overarching goals to guide future work and services:

1: Develop and expand C.E.S. preschool programs and services, including the School Readiness Grant Program, into high quality and high performing preschools, characterized by at-risk preschool and kindergarten participants consistently meeting age and grade level expectations. As part of the goal, C.E.S. expanded its School Readiness program to 90 students.

2: Develop the capacity to expand technical assistance and professional development services to school districts and preschool programs in the region, especially PD and TA designed to mitigate risk factors in preschool students and foster age/grade-level performance attainment as assessed by state standards.

3: Collaborate with colleges, universities, and other teacher training agencies around Connecticut, using the C.E.S. preschool program(s) to aid in developing new preschool teachers; support effective in-service staff training that develops teacher competence in mitigating risk factors in at-risk preschool children and foster age and grade readiness along the preschool through kindergarten grades continuum.

As part of Goal 2, early childhood program specialists facilitated the C.E.S. Regional Early Childhood Council throughout the 2014-15 school year.

Also, C.E.S partnered with Yale University to implement the Connecticut Early Childhood Education Research Alliance, which seeks to engage in research for the purpose of informing early childhood education decision-making at the local and state level.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)PDS facilitated a yearlong regional interest group with representatives from six districts whose interest was in collaborating to identify quality professional development learning for leaders of local STEM programs. It’s About Time, a New York-based consulting firm, presented three Institutes for each of three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. PDS will provide follow up during the 2015 -16 school year.

Associate Executive Director’s OfficeThe office of the Associate Executive Director oversees personnel, strategic planning, staff evaluations, Common Core State Standards implementation, School Turnaround initiatives, Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM), Safe School Climate Coordination, policy development, and Title I, Title IX, and 504 Coordination. It also is responsible for special projects and new business opportunities. In 2014-15, one major project

the Associate Executive Director led was the school turnaround implementation at Luis Marin School and Paul L. Dunbar School, both part of the Bridgeport Public Schools. Turnaround efforts included leadership coaching and development, professional development for teachers and non-certified staff, and monitoring of curricular decisions and resources.

The Associate Executive Director’s office plans the annual Fairfield County Professional Educator Fair, held at Fairfield’s Ludlowe Middle School. The fair draws hundreds of prospective educators to meet with employers from throughout the region.

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Fiscal Services • Fiscal Services provides all oversight of the C.E.S.’s $45

million budget, including:• Annual budget development and monitoring • Receipt and disbursement of all agency funds• Financial reporting• Payroll processing for more than 500 employees• MUNIS financial software utilization and security• Purchasing • Procurement and cost monitoring of agency-wide liability

and workers’ compensation insurances.In addition, the Fiscal Services Department is responsible for benefit enrollment, administration and processing of all employee health, disability, life, and 403(b) programs.

Facility ServicesFacility Services is responsible for the successful operation of all C.E.S. buildings and ensuring a safe, clean environment for students, staff, and visitors. Facility Services supervises all interior and exterior construction projects, building repair and permitting, waste management, utilities, and landscape management, including snow removal.

In 2014-2015, Facility Services oversaw the upgrading and installation of over 200 security cameras to various C.E.S. locations for round-the-clock facilities monitoring for student and staff safety.

During the past year, major construction projects included:25 Oakview Drive

• Creation of a “teaching kitchen” for daily living skills instruction

40 Lindeman Drive

• Renovationof the School Readiness Program site• Renovation of Therapeutic Day Program site• Contract award for lobby renovations• Contract award for parking lot and outdoor lighting

renovations

Information Technology ServicesInformation Technology Services coordinates network and telephone services between all C.E.S. buildings. Other responsibilities include maintaining state-of-the art hardware inventory, providing internet, email services, and help desk

assistance for all staff, troubleshooting and repairing hardware and software problems, and, upon request, providing technology consultation to member districts.

In 2014-15, a successful upgrade of the C.E.S. financial software program was completed.

Transportation ServicesTransportation Services owns and operates a fleet of 40 vehicles and provides specialized student transportation to member and non-member districts. Each year, C.E.S. vehicles travel more than 650,000 miles providing transportation to-and-from school on a daily basis, as well as field trips and other school activities. Transportation Services maintains an aggressive preventive maintenance program for its vehicles, ensuring safe and reliable transportation services.

C.E.S. negotiates the transportation contract for Project Choice. Transportation Services monitors compliance of the vendor, Dattco.

In addition to student transportation, C.E.S. operates a program in Norwalk that transports elderly and disabled individuals, utilizing eight C.E.S.-owned specialized vehicles.

Administrative Services is also responsible for the management of:• Employee annual notices of assignments • Employee incentive programs including tuition

reimbursement• Worksite safety program, including conducting emergency

evacuation and fire drills;• Indoor air quality program• C.E.S. Fingerprinting Services

Administrative Services

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Through the generous sponsorship of the Leir Foundation, C.E.S. hosted a “Day with Temple Grandin” at the Leir Re-treat Center in Ridgefield on Oct. 9, 2014. A professor of animal sciences and renowned advocate and champion for autism education, Dr. Grandin presented before teach-ers and administrators from C.E.S.’ member districts. Dr. Grandin’s accomplishments as an author, advocate, and ac-tivist have earned her honors as one of TIME Magazine’s list of the Top 100 most influential people and an HBO biopic about her life garnered seven Emmy awards and a Golden Globe. Dr. Grandin is an inspiration to millions of people and C.E.S. was proud to welcome her to the Leir Center to share some of her expertise and wisdom.

Temple Grandin inspires area teachers and adminstrators

John W. Marshall visits his father’s namesake school

Thurgood Marshall Middle School – the middle school di-vision of Six to Six – is named in honor of the U.S. Supreme Court justice and his many contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. On Sept. 17, 2014, John Marshall visited Six to Six to see his father’s namesake school in person and meet some of the students and staff members who make it a spe-cial place.

Thurgood Marshall cemented his historical legacy by rep-resenting the plaintiff in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Marshall later became the first African American justice on the Supreme Court when President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him to the bench in 1967.

Like his father, John W. Marshall is a trailblazer. In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed him director of the United States Marshal Service. Marshall later served as the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety from 2002-10. He has since be-come a public speaker on the subjects of his father’s legacy, civil rights, and criminal justice.

“It was an honor to have Mr. John Marshall visit our school,” said Principal Anna Nelmes-Stoughton. “It was inspira-tional to see him greeting students and sharing with them pictures of his own father, the Honorable Judge Thurgood Marshall. Throughout his brief comments he repeatedly emphasized to the students the value of hard work, dedica-tion, and continuing their education.”

Historic Visitors and Speakers

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Program Name

Regional Center for the Arts (RCA) x x x x x x x x x +++x x 2 12

Administrative Services

Executive Search Services x x 8 10Open Choice Program x x x x x x x 7Professional Development Services

School Readiness (Bridgeport Residents Only) x 1Six to Six Magnet School x x x x x x 8 14Special Education

Special Education Related Services

Audiological x x x x x x x x x 4 13Beginnings x x x x x x x x x 4 13Behavioral Psychology x x x x x x 3 9Consultation/Diagnostic Services x 2 3

Assistive Technology x x x x x x x x x 8 17

Curriculum Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 16

The Leadership Institute at Cooperative Educational Services x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 16

Minority Teacher Recruiting x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 17Reading/Language Arts Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2 15

Sexual Harrassment Awareness Training x x x x x x x x 2 10TEAM Mentor Update Training x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 17TEAM Orientation x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 17TEAM Support Training x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 17

Early Childhood Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 16High School Math Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 15

Science Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 15School Library Media Council x x x x x x x 1 8

Math Council x x x x x x x x x x x x 12

C.E.S. Regional Technology Coordinators x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 14

DLC/PLC - Summer x x x x x x x x x x x x 13 25Preschool-Primary Learning Center (PLC) - School Year x x x x x x x x 4 12RISE Transition Program x x x x x 5Therapeutic Day Program - School Year x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 13 27Therapeutic Day Program - Summer x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 9 23

Developmental Learning Center (DLC) - School Year x x x x x x x x x x x 12 23

Transportation x x x x x x x x 7 15

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District Participation Grid

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C.E.S. is the only Regional Education Service Center that undertakes searches for educational executives, including superintendents, central office administrators, and building principals. Consultants, including former superintendents Dr. H. Kaye Griffin and Dr. James Ritchie (both pictured), Dr. Salvatore Corda, and Thomas Jokubaitis, travel through-out the state to consult with Boards of Education to help identify needed candidates. In 2014-15, C.E.S. Executive Search Services conducted 10 distinct searches for public school districts in Connecticut.

www.ces.k12.ct.us

District Participation Grid

Administrative Services $1,027,675 L, SCapital Projects $1,727,158 L, SExecutive Director’s Office $515,722 L, SExecutive Searches $83,400 LFacility Cost Centers $3,611,694 L, S

Legal & Professional Fees $25,000 LOffice of the Associate Executive Director $332,084 LPublic Relations & Marketing $69,211 L

Transportation $1,510,122

Central Administration

5k Race $14,300 L

Interdistrict Magnet Schools & School Choice

Enhancing Education Choices/Opportunity $121,899 SRegional Center for the Arts $1,747,650 L, SSchool Choice Transportation $1,121,343 SSix to Six Magnet School $6,605,400 L, S

School Readiness $1,224,037 L, SProfessional Development ServicesAdministration $408,564 L, S

CT REAP $100,130 LEducational Leadership $127,141 LProfessional Development $968,043 L, S

Teacher Mentor Program $130,423 LSpecial Education

Administration $718,975 L, SAssistive Technology Center $286,536 L

Beginnings $109,186 S

Special Revenue FundsInterdistrict Grants $67,721 S

TransportationTransportation Services - LEA $988,377 L

Budgets as of June 30, 2015Expenditures 2014-15

Building Operations $6,425,914

Central Administration $2,352,530

Interdistrict Grants $155,773

Interdistrict Magnet Schools $7,634,870

Professional Development Services $3,035,030

Project Choice $1,218,025

School Readiness $1,038,432

Special Education $21,513,053

TEAM $7,344

Title I, II, III $178,200

Total Expenditures $45,069,293

Sources of Funding2014-15

L = Local S = State F = Federal

RISE Transition Program $494,592 LTeam Center $9,998 L, STherapeutic Day Program $10,312,390 LTherapeutic Day Program - Summer $538,817 L

Transportation Services - Elderly Norwalk $730,697 L,S,F

Internet & Technology Services $1,093,119 L

Financial Information

Special Education - Related Services

Medical $311,649 L

Professional Development $33,855 L

Developmental Learning Center - Summer $833,257 L

Audio Maintenance $132,586 L

Physical Education $160,674 L

Psych Services $330,255 L

DLC/Preschool Learning Center $9,948,508 L

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State Grants & Contracts17.9%

Local School Districts79.6%

Other - 2.5% •Rent, interest, parent fees 2.0% • State Dept. of Education 0.3% • Donations & Fundraising 0.2%

C.E.S. Difference Makers

From RCA to Tina Fey

photo by Leslie Hassler

Tim Boardman

In less than a year, Tim Boardman has gone from performing with his former C.E.S. Regional Center for the Arts (RCA) classmates, to contrib-uting his acting talents to a Netflix smash hit and the leading role in an Independent Feature Film.

Boardman, who graduated from R.C.A. in 2014, is a guest cast member on Tina Fey’s original comedy series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” The entire first season of the show is avail-able for streaming on Netflix.

“I found out that I got the part, and had to be at a fitting in Brooklyn that same day in two hours!” Boardman said.

“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is the story of a young woman who moves to New York after escaping from a Doomsday cult in Indiana. Ellie Kem-per, whose comedy credits include Erin on NBC’s “The Office” and Becca in the hit film “Bridesmaids,” plays the title character.

Fey, the “Saturday Night Live” legend and comedy A-lister, created “Unbreak-able” with her “30 Rock” collaborator Robert Carlock.

A day after getting cast, Boardman found himself working alongside some of the show’s main cast. As Dylan, he plays a rich and entitled friend of Xan-thippe, the daughter of Kimmy’s new employer.

“On my first day, Ellie Kemper came up to me and introduced herself and made me feel welcome. She’s such a goof on and off set,” Boardman said. “Even when things got tedious after a long day, she still had so much positive energy. That’s something I admire as an actor.”

Boardman took a year off after gradu-ating from high school and will enroll next fall at Pace University in the Musi-cal Theatre program.

More roles are on the way for Board-man who just finished filming as the ti-tle character in “Miles,” an independent film about a high school senior who joins the girls’ volleyball team in pur-suit of a college scholarship.

Boardman said that his family and his experience at RCA both prepared him for success.

Boardman said the school taught him technique, time management, perse-verance, and the importance of prepa-ration, among other skills.

“The teachers made sure that none of the other kids in my class ever gave up,” Boardman said. “They worked with us and pushed us to be the best that we could be as performers and made us stronger people.”

His teachers are delighted to watch Boardman succeed professionally.

“From the time Tim entered R.C.A. he had a magic about being in the room,” teacher Scott Handley said. “Tim was an excellent student who was always passionate about performing.”

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C.E.S. Foundation Mini-Grant Winners

Special Education teachers Jodi Lovegrove (left) and Brenna McGuigan (right), pictured here with Special Education Unit Director Elizabeth MacKenzie, were among seven re-cipients of mini-grants from the C.E.S. Foun-dation. All the winners were honored at a re-ception held in December of 2014.

C.E.S. Foundation

C.E.S. Difference Makers

C.E.S.’ Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School has a champion writer in its midst!

Bella Curulla, who recently completed the third grade, won her age group for the Energize Connecticut eesmart Student Contest. The competition invited students from the kindergarten through high school to submit projects about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.

Nearly 700 entries were submitted and reviewed and Bella was invited to the State Capitol on Friday, June 5, as a finalist in the 3rd grade narra-tive competition. Governor Dannel P. Malloy served as keynote speaker during the ceremony.

Bella was announced as the winner for her narrative, “Saving Rabbits,” and was awarded a $400 Amazon.com gift card and a plaque. She represented Six to Six Magnet School very well during the competition and the school is tremendously proud of her accomplishment. Eversource Energy and United Illuminating Company sponsored the contest along with Energize Connecticut. In all, 32 winners were selected from 19 different towns.

Six to Six third grader Bella Curulla wins statewide writing contest

The C.E.S. Foundation Board for 2014-15

The C.E.S. Foundation was created in 2007 with the mission of enhancing learning opportunities for students of C.E.S. educational programs including enrichment grants to C.E.S. educators. Since inception, the C.E.S. Foundation has funded more than 88 projects totaling over $50,000. Mini-grants have been awarded to projects in all C.E.S. programs.

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C.E.S. Difference Makers

From RCA to Tina Fey

www.ces.k12.ct.us

Visit us onlinewww.ces.k12.ct.us

facebook.com/CooperativeEducationalServices“It is the policy of C.E.S. that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise discriminated against under any service or program on account of race, color, religious creed, age, marital or civil union status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, residence, present or past history of mental disorder, mental retardation, learning disability or physical disability including, but not limited to, blindness, or pregnancy and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding C.E.S. nondiscrimination policies should be directed to the Associate Executive Director’s office, C.E.S., 40 Lindeman Dr., Trumbull, CT 06611, (203) 365-8831.”