Dear CREC Community Members, During my first few months at CREC, I’ve learned about the complexities of our agency, and I’ve gotten to know many of our staff members and partners. I’ve also had incredible opportunities to have fun! Interacting with our students and families has been a pleasure, and it has helped me

develop a personal connection to CREC.At a Rebuilding Together Hartford event this spring, I worked with CREC students and staff to refurbish a home. Four CREC Two Rivers Magnet High School students were on my concrete crew as we repaired a ramp, and it was a joy to interact with them, get to know them, and learn about their experiences and aspirations. A few days later, one of those students tried to teach me to fly a drone at Inspire Hartford. (Note that I used the word trying. I was not a very good student.) Interacting more closely with members of the CREC family has helped create a greater sense of belonging. Being a new leader has its challenges, especially in today’s economic climate. However, feeling a sense of connectedness has helped to make my transition a little easier. The following is a list of a few of the fun things I’ve done since I started at CREC:• My open office hours provided a great opportunity to meet everyone.• I received a “shape up” with our CREC Public Safety Academy students at an event where local barbers

donated their services.• I’ve attended events that celebrate the work other organizations are doing to help area children.• On career day, I spoke to students at CREC’s Metropolitan Learning Center for Global and International

Studies, and I listened to presentations at the school’s Abolitionist Fair.• I’ve watched our student-athletes.• I enjoyed CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School’s production of “West Side Story.”• I learned about the life cycle of plants and their habitats from young docents at CREC’s Museum Academy.• I paid attention during culminating presentations at CREC’s International Magnet for Global Citizenship.• I read to students at CREC Montessori Magnet School and CREC’s University of Hartford Magnet School.• I’ve sat with students receiving support from the CREC Trude Mero Family Resource Center.• I spent time with CREC John J. Allison, Jr. Polaris Center students as they learned transitional skills that will

help them after they graduate.• I watched chess players compete in a statewide tournament hosted by CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle

School.• I tested my CREC trivia knowledge at a CREC 50th anniversary event.• I went to the Dance for Ana with Love fundraiser at CREC’s Medical Professions and Teacher Preparation

Academy.The job of executive director is complex, and the learning curve can be steep. However, the opportunity to connect with CREC staff, students, and families will always provide inspiration and motivation.If you would like to visit any of our schools or programs, please let me know. I’m sure you will be invigorated and inspired, just as I have been.

Sincerely,Dr. Greg J. Florio

May 2016

In This IssueDistrict and School News .......2-3

Recognitions and Honors .......4-5

Events and Updates.................6-8

Executive Director’s ReportExecutive Director’s MessageGreg J. Florio, Ed.D.

Attachment F A MONTHLY UPDATE BY THE CAPITOL REGION EDUCATION COUNCIL

fb.com/CRECExcellenceinEducation @CRECEducation

SOUTHINGTON — Marilyn Kahl, principal at Kelley School, was cocooned in strands of duct tape Friday as cheering students taped her to a wall in the gymnasium. The spectacle was their reward for raising more than $14,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the school’s annual Math-A-Thon.

Students at the K-5 school at 501 Ridgewood Road had asked friends and family to pledge money as they solved math problems in the St. Jude “Math-A-Thon Funbook.” Kahl said the national fundraiser has been held each year at Kelley School since 1987. Last year, Kelley School’s fundraising amount was the 38th highest in the country and to date, students have collected a total of $210,000 for St. Jude.

This year, fourth grade teacher Denise Sadowski offered the additional incentive of allowing participating students to “Tape Mrs. Kahl to the Wall!”

“I’m not worried, I can’t wait,” said Kahl as she walked toward the gymnasium. “The kids are so excited to be a part of this. They have been asking me a lot of questions like ‘How long are you going to stay up there?’”

“I only chose her for this because I knew how good a sport she’d be,” said Sadowski.

For the next hour, Kahl’s sportsmanship was put to the test as 260 students stepped up, class by class, with colored lines of tape. What started as a few lines of tape across her legs and arms ultimately resulted in her mummification from the neck down. All the while, students chanted “Tape Mrs. Kahl to the wall!”

In between rounds of taping, Sadowski thanked students for their fundraising efforts.

“Thank you on behalf of all the kids you’ve helped and on behalf of the parents of those children at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital,” she said. “You are all amazing.”

“We know!” a child shouted back from the audience.

About halfway through the program, Kahl’s fellow teachers began bringing her bottles of water with straws.

“It feels a little weird,” Kahl said. “It’s very tight and a little warm. I’m just glad I don’t have an itch.”

Eric Korp, gym teacher at Kelley School, conducted the show like a sportscaster. As each student approached with tape in hand, he asked them where they were going to tape her. A few students joked that they would tape her mouth shut.

Later, Korp asked students to raise their hands if they thought the tape would hold or if she would fall when the platform she was standing on was removed. Anticipation was high as the final pieces of tape were applied. The room was silent for a few moments as the moment of truth arrived. Then, the gymnasium erupted in cheers as Kahl hung suspended above the ground. The wait had been worth it, but after a few moments of frantic picture snapping, it was time to let the principal go.Source—The Bristol Bristol article published by Brian Johnson on April 25, 2016

2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016

District and School NewsKelley School Students Tape Their Principal to the Wall

Photo credit: The Bristol Press

“It feels a little weird. It’s very tight and a little warm. I’m just glad I don’t have an itch.”

— Marilyn Kahl Principal of Kelley School

PLAINVILLE — Dr. Henry C. Lee visited Plainville High School on Tuesday morning, where the world renowned forensic scientist spoke with hundreds of students about his journey towards becoming one of the biggest names in the crime solving world.

Kids in advanced science classes from Plainville High, Berlin High, Bristol Eastern and Miss Porter’s filled the auditorium to listen to a man whose name and work have become synonymous with countless high profile cases over the years.

“We are honored and excited to have Dr. Lee here today,” Plainville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Brummett said. “I’m a huge fan of Dr. Lee and my family can attest to the fact that I’ve spent way too much time watching his television shows.”

The auditorium full of students at Plainville High spent their time with their eyes affixed on Lee when he took over at the podium.

As for Lee, he spent his time telling the students of his long and trying journey that led him to his standing as one of the most recognizable names in forensic science.

Lee spoke of his childhood in Taiwan as well as his move to America in 1965. While discussing his youth, which included obstacles such as losing his father at six-years-old and not having a lot of money to his name, Lee also touched upon a valuable lesson he learned that has stuck with him to this day.

“I only did one thing in my life, which was to make the impossible become possible,” Lee said.

That mantra served the forensic scientist well, and struck a notable chord with those in attendance.

“I thought that was pretty cool,” Plainville High student Matt Linnhoff said. “It was sort of motivational, like nothing is out of reach.”

Lee’s focus on keeping things in reach also helped him to grind through his first science related job in America –washing beakers and test tubes as a junior technician – and work towards something greater.

Taking advantage of the education opportunities moved Lee’s career forward, something he stressed to the students.

“When you’re in high school and college, it’s the best time of your life. Take every and each opportunity,” Lee said. “Once

you possess the knowledge and skill, that’s going to be with you all your life.

Nobody can steal it away from you.”

Lee discussed his career path since he joined the University of New Haven in 1975, which has included work on the O.J. Simpson trial as well as assisting with the murder case of JonBenet Ramsey.

He also jokingly compared countless crime investigation shows, such as CSI, to his own work, stating that they make his job look way to seamless and precise.

“CSI goes to a crime scene? They use one flashlight. It’s really good. Every piece of evidence is found. When they have two detectives, what do they do? Two flashlights. Three detectives? Three flashlights,” Lee joked.

Lee’s humor didn’t end there, as he used some of Plainville’s top educators at his own expense. Brummett and Plainville High principal Steve LePage found themselves used in Lee’s latest “FBI’s Most Wanted” list, as well as having their heads used in countless photos throughout the scientist’s presentation.Source—The Plainville Citizen article published by Nate Brown on April 22, 2016

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016 3

Dr. Henry Lee Addresses Plainville, Berlin Students

Photo credit: The Plainville Citizen

“When you’re in high school and college, it’s the best time of your life. Take every and each opportunity.Once you possess the knowledge and skill, that’s going to be with you all your life. Nobody can steal it away from you.”

— Dr. Henry C. Lee

Recognition and Honors

Khahari Mangual, a senior student-athlete at CREC’s Public Safety Academy, was recently named both Youth of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford and Connecticut Youth of the Year.“Khahari is a sharp young man,” said CREC Public Safety Academy Principal Jeff Larson. “He has been able to master being a great citizen, student, and athlete, but more importantly, he is a great person. CREC’s Public Safety Academy is so proud of his accomplishments and looks forward to him changing the world as he embarks on his collegiate journey.”Mangual, who lives in East Hartford, is an honor roll student, and he accepted his award at the organization’s annual gala, delivering an acceptance speech to an audience of more than 500 people. He received a standing ovation.In addition to diligently pursuing his studies, Mangual has served as captain of both the CREC Public Safety Academy baseball team and the school’s basketball team, earning all-league honors. He’s also served as captain of the CREC Colts football team. “CREC Athletics has given me the opportunity to serve as a captain in three varsity sports,” Mangual said. “The discipline and leadership skills that I have gained, I will use for the rest of my life.”CREC Athletic Director Jonathan Winer says the primary goal of CREC’s sports program is to promote the overall growth of CREC students into young adults. “Khahari is a perfect example of an

individual who grew into a leader on and off of the athletic playing field,” he said. “We are very proud of his development and are excited to see the amazing contributions he will make to society as he moves on to the next stage of his life.”Mangual started going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford when he was 6. He now volunteers for the organization, and he’s participated in several of its programs, including a financial literacy program and the Keystone Club, a teen leadership and service program.“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford is MY safe haven,” Mangual said. “It is where I find safety and comfort and escape the troubles in my home.”Due to his hard work and persistence, Mangual will attend college next fall. He hopes to become a lawyer.

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CREC Student-Athlete Named Youth of the Year

Two Rivers Earns Green Ribbon Honors

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Both CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School and CREC Two Rivers Magnet High School have been named Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were selected for their efforts to reduce environmental impacts and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School started a composting program and installed a wind turbine and solar panels. CREC Two Rivers Magnet High School students participate in sustainable design, water quality testing, and they can take aquaponics courses. In total, 47 schools and 15 districts throughout the United States were honored. Stamford’s King School was the only other school to receive the honor from Connecticut. “We are making strides towards cleaner, greener ways of living, and the steps these Connecticut schools have taken are truly something to celebrate. It’s a great honor for the students, their dedicated teachers and administrators, and all of us across the state,” said Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy in a press release he issued announcing the honorees. “These schools are standing up to protect the environment and I’m thrilled they are being recognized nationally for their efforts.”

Aerospace Named No. 2 High School in ConnecticutU.S. News & World Report has named CREC’s Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Windsor the No. 2 high school in Connecticut.

The themed magnet school was awarded a gold medal in the annual rankings. It was also ranked the 82nd high school in the nation.

When determining high school rankings, U.S. News & World Report takes into account several statistics, including test scores and school and district data.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016 5

CREC’s Montessori Magnet School’s courtyard is now a certified wildlife habitat, and this new designation means that the school community must take extra care of school grounds. On April 23, the school held a clean-up day. About 50 students, parents, and staff members helped to beautify the courtyard. They swept, weeded, and worked on planting and landscape projects, preparing the courtyard for its new monarch butterfly recovery garden.The courtyard earned its new wildlife habitat status from the National Wildlife Federation, and the school’s parent-teacher group will purchase a plaque that highlights this honor. A $500 grant from the Lego Community Fund and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association will help the school start its butterfly garden, providing the money needed to purchase plants that attract monarch butterflies. The grant will also allow the school to buy supplies to help with planting. In addition, funding from the two organizations will send two CREC Montessori Magnet School teachers to

a day-long professional development session, which will teach them how to setup and maintain a monarch butterfly recovery garden. The teachers will also be provided with lesson plans that they can use with their students. CREC Montessori Magnet School teacher Nancy Rawn is leading the school’s efforts on this project and secured the grant for her school. “I am very excited to decorate the courtyard with plants that butterflies love,” she said.

CREC Montessori Magnet Earns Wildlife Habitat Distinction

Aerospace’s Uche and Banach Recognized

Chinma Uche, a teacher at CREC’s Academy of Aerospace and Engineering and CREC’s 2015 teacher of the year, was recently named a Women of Innovation award winner in the field of academic innovation and leadership by the Connecticut Technology Council.This award is given to women who work in an academic setting and create and foster science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs in curriculum development, student research, and teacher-student collaborations. The annual award is given to individuals who have secured outside funding, or received peer recognition, for their leadership and innovation. The Connecticut Technology Council also recognized CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering student Sara Banach, of Enfield, for her work on Zotis, an app that can help organize STEM resources and websites. The app was created by CREC students for the 2015 Congressional App Challenge. Banach was an honoree for a Women of Innovation award in the category of youth innovation and leadership.

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Arts Academy NotesFour students from CREC’s Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School were recently recognized for their tremendous accomplishments. • Jossary Padilla, a senior from Hartford, was named a winner in the Hill-

Stead Museum’s Fresh Voices poetry competition. She will read her work at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival in August.

• Charity Gregory, a sophomore from New Britain, won best documentary at the Reel Youth Hartford Film Festival for “Manic Depression Interview,” a video about individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or manic depression.

• A design from Annalise Caraballo and Anastasia Santana, seniors from Hartford, will be in included in this year’s annual Trashion Soiree, which will be held May 13 at the Pond House in West Hartford.

For 50 years, the Hartford Region Open Choice Program has helped to reduce the racial isolation of Hartford and suburban students, while ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality, integrated education. The program began in 1966 during the civil rights movement as Project Concern and was managed by the Hartford Board of Education. It became the statewide Open Choice program in 1997 after the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in the Sheff vs. O’Neill case that “students in Hartford suffer daily from the devastating effects that racial and ethnic isolation, as well as poverty, have on their education.” The Sheff vs. O’Neill decision charged that Connecticut’s system of separate city and suburban school districts led to racially segregated schools and was a violation of Hartford children’s rights to equal opportunity.The Hartford Region Open Choice Program, alongside magnet schools and other regional programs, is a key part of the strategy to address the endemic segregation between Connecticut’s small communities. The Open Choice program allows children who live in Hartford to attend suburban schools and students who live in suburban communities to attend school in Hartford. When the program began, there was not universal support for integration, and many community members were not in favor of allowing students to access educational opportunities across district lines. “Fifty years ago, it took a lot of courage to make change happen,” said CREC Executive Director Greg Florio. “Change usually requires a lot of courage.”In 1966, the five districts of Farmington, Manchester, Simsbury, South Windsor, and West Hartford, took the first courageous steps to establish the

program in partnership with community leaders and parents. In the first school year, the five founding districts offered

252 seats to Hartford students in their local public schools. At the time, and in the years since, the school districts fought to overcome challenges, such as the negative perceptions that some suburban, white families held about Hartford students and families of color. But the program continued to grow, and as communities began to see the benefits and the results, new districts signed on to participate. Today, the program is managed by

CREC, an agency that is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and there are 28 participating districts that serve nearly 2,300 students. The program is nationally recognized as a model for interdistrict cooperation and for breaking down racial barriers, but more still needs to be done. The state has fallen short on its goal to substantially increase the number of students enrolled in the program. One-third of the suburban districts enroll fewer than 2 percent of their students from Hartford, while the program’s target for districts is to enroll more than 4 percentThe Open Choice program kicked off its year of celebration April 5 with a legislative reception at the Capitol in Hartford. During the event, it recognized the program’s founding districts and their commitment to the program. A second celebration for students, alumni, and supporters of the program will be held this summer, and the program is working to reconnect with its nearly 4,500 alumni through its website: www.crec.org/choice.

6 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016

Events and UpdatesHartford Region Open Choice Program Turns 50

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The Open Choice program will hold a Twitter chat about the benefits and challenges of an integrated education on May 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. To participate in @CRECEducation’s Twitter chat, use #CRECchat.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016 7

Students from 22 Towns Work Together to Reduce Hunger in HartfordThirty high school students who participate in the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA) recently packed and delivered more than 10,000 meals to St. Francis Hospital’s Mount Sinai campus. “One thing that stuck out to me while we were working was that every action we did would help improve someone’s day,” said Jameson Toper, a student at CREC’s Academy of Aerospace and Engineering. “We may never meet that person, but knowing that we may have changed someone’s life with our simple project is a fantastic feeling.”CRILA is a program for high school juniors and seniors in Greater Hartford, and it is managed by CREC. It aims to provide a forum for students to practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community service. Participating students reside in 22 communities and attend 24 high schools in the Greater Hartford area.The students spent several months planning and organizing their community service project and raised

more than $2,500 to support their efforts. On April 23, they met at CREC Discovery Academy in Wethersfield to pack thousands of meals. They then delivered the meals to the Joan C. Dauber Food Bank at St. Francis Hospital. “Creating and accomplishing our group service project was an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life,” said Tate Knapp, a student at Wethersfield High School and a leadership academy participant. “It was remarkable that we, as a group, could

collaborate to execute such an impactful project.”This selfless project was made possible because of the program’s commitment to leadership, teambuilding, and service. Last summer, students participated in a week-long formal outdoor leadership program at the Colorado Outward Bound School in Leadville, Colorado, and they learned lessons that they’ve used throughout this school year. The group also meets regularly to develop their leadership and problem-solving skills.The idea for their community service project came about because the students identified

hunger as a major concern in the Hartford community. In March, the students visited the Joan C. Dauber Food Bank to hear from Joan Dauber, its founder, and to learn about the organization’s mission, activities, and major areas of need. “Food insecurity is a growing problem for many families in our community,” said Dauber. “The food donation from this project will provide much-needed nutritious food for families that are struggling day-to-day to survive.”

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Discovery Academy Opens Rooftop GardenOn April 22, students and staff at CREC’s Discovery Academy celebrated Earth Day by opening their own rooftop garden.The CREC Discovery Academy opened its new school building on Cumberland Avenue in Wethersfield on September 2, but the rooftop garden was not ready for student use at that time. April 22 marked the garden’s official opening, and all students at the school toured the garden that day to learn about vegetables and the growing and eating cycle. They also participated in other Earth Day-related activities and learned about the environment from high school students who attend CREC’s Medical Professions and Teacher Preparation Academy in New Britain.The new CREC Discovery Academy building is 72,000 square feet. It was built to enhance the school’s theme of interactive exploration, and the building’s exterior design provides interactive ways for students to explore nature. CREC photo

8 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – May 2016

Events and Updates (continued)

With the help of keynote speaker Geneva Gay, participants at CREC’s first-ever Social Justice and Equity Symposium analyzed the extent to which the infrastructure and function of their schools produces equity. They also created initial plans for addressing equity in their classrooms, schools, and districts.Gay is an education professor at the University of Washington-Seattle and is known for her work in multicultural education. The two-day symposium was held April 6 and April 7 in East Hartford, and it was a professional development opportunity for about 140 educators, educational leaders, and educational stakeholders. These individuals were interested in examining and developing policies, practices, structures, and systems of education that support equity and social justice for culturally and linguistically diverse students within their school communities, and the symposium provided them with a chance to collaborate, discuss, and plan for systemic change.

CREC Holds First-Ever Social Justice and Equity Symposium

CREC photo: University of Washington-Seattle education professor Geneva Gay speaks to the crowd at CREC’s Social Justice and Equity Symposium.

CREC Ultimate Frisbee Team Practices with UConn Women’s TeamThe CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering’s middle school Ultimate Frisbee team held a practice April 21 with members of the UConn women’s ultimate team. This was the first step in creating a partnership that will benefit both the magnet school and the university.The goal of the practice was to encourage participation in the sport and to teach the middle school students Ultimate Frisbee techniques and strategies. The UConn women conducted several drills, giving the middle school students tips on how to be better Ultimate Frisbee players.

CREC photo: Joy Kissa, a kindergarten student at CREC Reggio Magnet School of the Arts from Simsbury, participates in a sensory activity during her school’s math and science night.

Exploring Senses with Slime

Learning About RelationshipsSouthern Transition Real-World and Independent Vocational Education (STRIVE) is now teaching students about healthy relationships.The curriculum, developed by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and Planned Parenthood, helps students better understand anatomy and physiology, healthy sexual relationships, and the importance of communication in relationships. STRIVE decided to offer the curriculum because of student needs.

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