CAPSS' NEWS

April 25, 2024
Aqua Turf Club
9:00 - 11:30 Sessions - 11:30 Lunch - 12:00 Exhibits followed by a reception

The CAPSS Perspective
CAPSS Executive Director, Fran Rabinowitz, will join us to share insight into CAPSS’ priorities, initiatives, and the future of education.

more information/registration

All elementary schools in Connecticut should know about Civics Education for CT Students: a new funding source for K-5 classes statewide. Enhance your district’s approach to new civics standards with $2 field trips, $50 in-class programs, and bus reimbursements for civics-focused field trips. There's no application process for these funds, just send an email to get started – you can even start planning next year’s trips today!

More specifically, are you teaching about the current war between Israel and Hamas or are you teaching about the history of the area? If your school is not, is it because you are concerned about the controversy, you are worried you might say the wrong thing or you do not think you know enough to teach about it? If either are the case, please know that organizations like the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) can help you get balanced resources to help you. In case your school does not have a connection, JFACT is happy to put your school in touch with organizations who have resources and curriculum to help, including the Dodd Center at UConn.
 
For more information, please reach out to JFACT Executive Director, Michael Bloom, at 860-983-3476 or mbloom@jfact.org.

Michael Bloom
Executive Director
Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut

CAPSS partner Cartwheel recently announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Bradley Hospital to help school districts tackle the student mental health crisis. Teens aged 13-18 are now eligible for direct access to Bradley’s REACH Partial hospitalization program. Instead of sitting on months-long waitlists, students in Cartwheel partner districts can be directly referred to the intensive outpatient program to treat emotional or behavioral issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.

To learn more about how you can get access for students in your districts, schedule a consultation or register for the upcoming informational webinar on Thursday, March 27.

Bradlely-Cartwheel

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its Connecticut State Chapter, Connecticut Education Technology Leaders Association (CTETL), are pleased to collaborate with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.

CoSN K-12 Community Vendor Assessment Tool (K-12CVAT)
The CoSN K-12 Community Vendor Assessment Tool provides education leaders in K-12 schools and districts, and also broader education service districts, with a tool to measure vendor risk. School leaders are encouraged to include  - as part of their process for purchasing a third-party solution - a request that their solution providers complete a K-12CVAT assessment prior to finalizing the purchase agreement. When a vendor completes the K-12CVAT assessment they are able to confirm that the information, data and cybersecurity policies that are included within their product will protect a school system’s sensitive information as well as any Personal Identifiable Information (PII) belonging to constituents. CoSN recommends that school systems use the K-12CVAT as a regular step in their procurement processes, including having potential solution providers complete the K-12CVAT questionnaire as part of RFP processes and purchase evaluations.

To learn more about the CoSN K-12 Community Vendor Assessment Tool and access the link to download the tool visit the CoSN K-12CVAT web page at https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/k-12cvat/.

EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Series
CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net co-host a monthly online edLeader Panel broadcast series, sponsored by ClassLink, to help superintendents and school leaders connect and collaborate. Registration is free and registered participants can join the live event and/or view recordings and podcast versions starting a day or two after the live broadcast. 

The most recent monthly edLeader Panel broadcast, Leading Effective Data Privacy Processes Within a School District Setting, aired on Monday, March 11 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Superintendents Bill Barr, Wrangell Public Schools, AK, Scott Elder, Albuquerque Public Schools, NM, and Dr. Mary Templeton, Washougal School District, WA, shared the strategies they have implemented to assess their school districts’ privacy and compliance policies and also assure that data privacy is integrated into all aspects of technology use within their school districts. Five critical guidelines for making data privacy an essential commitment within any school system were reviewed. The superintendents were joined by Linnette Attai, CoSN Project Director for Data Privacy, who explained how and why a school district can earn the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment Seal. You are welcome to register to view the recording and/or podcast version of this and other previous edLeader Panel broadcasts at https://home.edweb.net/supers/. 

CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, “Leading for Innovation: At Warp Speed”
Registration is now open for the CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled for April 8-10, 2024, in Miami, Florida. For conference and hotel information and registration links, see https://www.cosn.org/cosn2024/.

CoSN Membership:  If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact membership@cosn.org.

Dear Colleagues - It is with mixed emotions that I invite you to save the date of Tuesday afternoon, May 21st so that you can attend a retirement reception for our friend, Dr. Jeff Kitching, as he moves on from a stellar career in public education.  After serving with honor in several positions, most recently for 8 years as Executive Director at EdAdvance in Litchfield, we will be gathering in person to say, "thank you Jeff for your service."  There is a link and a QR code to register on the attached flier - if you cannot be there that afternoon but would still like to send a message of support, there is also an option to just make a gift contribution.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who you think might be interested.

Jonathan P. Costa, Sr.
Assistant Executive Director
P.O. Box 909 | 355 Goshen Road, Litchfield, CT 06759
O: 860.567.0863 x1115| F: 860.567.3381

Flier

The spring 2024 American School District Panel survey closes on April 17. ASDP is the only nationally representative survey panel of school districts, giving voice to district leaders and influencing the educational investments of its funders: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wallace Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation.

  1. If you are part of the ASDP sample, you have received email invitations and reminders from ASDP@rand.org (check your mailbox and spam folder!)
  2. Please take the 10-minute survey, which you can delegate as you wish to other district staff
  3. You’ll receive a $250 student scholarship (doubled to $500 if you previously participated in the fall 2023 survey) and a customized, confidential report with your district’s survey responses alongside your peer districts and districts nationally

RAND also publishes timely reports and provides free, interactive data sets with results for all districts. Learn more at www.americanschooldistrictpanel.org.

The field of education has never been more dynamic than now. Therefore, it’s important for school communities to be willing to adapt a School Improvement Plan in response to emerging needs, changes in student demographics, or shifts in evidence-based practices.  A school improvement plan is often an ever-changing document that is revisited and updated periodically. It is also a means to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, milestones, and successes of the school community. By actively and strategically utilizing the SIP, a principal can provide direction, inspiration, and leadership to the school community, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ultimately driving positive change. Read on to learn more about School Improvement Plans and the best practices you can put into place today.
 

Dear School Superintendent,

Please consider taking this brief survey and sharing it with your school community. We are using a ThoughtExchange this year for our needs assessment to be as open as possible to your school safety concerns. Please use this link to access the survey which takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. 

https://tejoin.com/scroll/845233927

Your feedback is vital for our service to you and your school community.

Sincerely,

Amery E. Bernhardt, D.M., CEM 
Director of the Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation 
Western Connecticut State University

Summertime Grade 9 Professional Development
For the third straight year, RISE will host the Grade 9 Summer Symposium for educators across the region, on June 24-25 at the Delamar in West Hartford. A full 100% of attendees at the 2022 and 2023 Symposiums have agreed with the statement, “I would recommend the Summer Symposium to other educators, schools, and districts interested in advancing Freshman Success.” The two-day conference features panels, workshops, and sessions that highlight the need for strong Grade 9 on-track structures; illustrate strategies that work; and provide guided planning time for teams. A PDF flyer with more information is available here, and this blog post following last year’s Symposium provides a window into the 2023 event and a sampling of participant feedback. Leaders interested in learning more or registering a team can email Sam Purdy, RISE Director of Engagement, or complete this form.

2024-25 Grade 9 On-Track Coaching and Professional Development
RISE is currently enrolling schools in next year’s Freshman Focus Network, a year-long network of coaching, professional development, and cross-district learning focused on building Grade 9 conditions for success. This year, 18 schools from across nine districts are participating, and we are seeing teams pilot new structures and systems to strengthen the student experience and educator collaboration in the 9th grade year. Leaders interested in exploring taking part can email Peter Lorinser, RISE Engagement Manager.

 

UConn’s Neag School of Education is recruiting a new cohort of educational leaders for the Executive Leadership Program 2024-2025 cohort. The Executive Leadership Program prepares educational leaders for district leadership positions with a primary emphasis on preparing for the position of superintendent of schools. Neag School’s ELP program has more than 70 graduates serving as district leaders and 60+ now serving as Connecticut superintendents. We are seeking candidates with excellent district leadership potential. According to our Class of 2023, 100% of our graduates attest to its effectiveness in meeting national standards, preparing for administrative roles, and earning respect among Connecticut educators. Our information sessions are coming up soon.

Click here to read more

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its Connecticut State Chapter, Connecticut Education Technology Leaders Association (CTETL), are pleased to collaborate with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.

Data Privacy Week – January 21-27, 2024
As we continue our journey into 2024, CoSN is placing a special emphasis on the critical need to assure that data privacy is a priority in all K-12 schools across the nation. Data Privacy Week, which runs from January 21 through January 27, 2024, provides an opportunity for school leaders to turn their attention to the issue of protecting students’ personal information. CoSN is pleased to offer multiple resources including blogs, toolkits, workshops, courses, and a special webinar to support school districts’ efforts regarding data privacy, not only during Data Privacy Week, but throughout he year. You are invited to access these free resources on student data privacy at https://www.cosn.org/student-data-privacy/. Some specific examples of the resources found on the CoSN Student Data Privacy website include:

  • Student Data Privacy Video Series: Why Privacy Matters 
  • Updated Data Privacy Toolkit, focused on Transparency & Trust 
  • Resource: Making the Case for Privacy 

Trusted Learning Environment Seal
The CoSN Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal program is a unique privacy framework designed to support school system leaders in building effective privacy policies and programs within a culture of trust and transparency. 

The TLE website can be accessed at https://www.cosn.org/trusted-learning-environment/ and provides school leaders with a wide variety of materials to support their leadership work regarding student data privacy including:

  • Preview the CoSN TLE Seal Application
  • Building a Trusted Learning Environment: Understanding the Leadership Practice 
  • Webinar Recording: Leadership Strategies to Assure Student Data Privacy

EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Series
CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net co-host an online edLeader Panel broadcast series, sponsored by ClassLink, to help superintendents connect and collaborate. Registration is free and participants can join the live event or view recordings and podcast versions starting a day or two after the live broadcast. 

The upcoming February 12, 2024 (5:00 pm Eastern Time) edLeader Panel broadcast on the topic of Leading Learning That Truly Meets the Needs of Each Student. In this edLeader Panel Dr. Jill Louters, Superintendent, New Rockford-Sheyenne School District, ND, Mr. Randy Squier, Superintendent, Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, NY, and Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Superintendent, Winchester Public Schools, VA, share the strategies their districts implement to assure that the teachers and staff have the knowledge and skills to leverage what technology can provide to enable each student to be a successful learner. Learn more about the upcoming broadcast and access the free registration link at: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/supers20240212/.

If you missed the January 8, 2024, edLeader Panel broadcast on of Proactive Leadership Regarding Cybersecurity in School Systems which featured Dr. Peter Aiken, Superintendent Central York School District, Dr. Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent of Schools, Beaverton, Oregon, and Connecticut’s own Dr. Mark Benigni, Superintendent Meriden Public Schools, Connecticut, you are welcome to access the video recording and/or the podcast version at https://home.edweb.net/webinar/supers20240108/.

CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, “Leading for Innovation: At Warp Speed”
Registration is now open for the CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled for April 8-10, 2024, in Miami, Florida. For conference and hotel information and registration links, see https://www.cosn.org/cosn2024/.

CoSN Membership:  If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact membership@cosn.org.

Hello! We are reaching out to you from the Center on Reinventing Public Education, for our Think Forward New England work to help make sense of our research findings with parents and community members who care about education in the region. 

This facilitated conversation that will probe on the following questions and ideas:

  • What have we learned from our research so far and how does this relate (or not) with your experience over the past year?
  • Who needs to hear these messages and what is the best way to reach them?
  • Where do we go from here with research, policy, and practice supporting high school student success?

After completing this survey we will reach out to confirm the time and date. We may not be able to accommodate every participant but will do our best! The virtual meeting will take place in late January or early February and is expected to last for 60 minutes. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for taking part. 

The discussion will be recorded for note-taking purposes, but we will maintain parents’ anonymity in any publication and the video will not be shared. The key themes will be synthesized and disseminated widely among district leaders, community groups, and policymakers in the region. Thank you for your time!

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

We are partnering with the Middle East Institute at Columbia University to provide travel grants to New York area educators for this school year/next summer. Recipients of the grant will receive a $1,000 credit from Columbia University towards the cost of their program fee for the following programs:

1.    Egypt: December 27, 2023 - January 7th, 2024
2.    Morocco: June 10 - 24, 2024
3.    Egypt: June 12 - 23, 2024
4.    Morocco: June 24 - July 8, 2024
5.    Jordan: June 27 - July 4, 2024
6.    Central Asia: July 2 - 24, 2024
7.    Jordan: July 4 - 11, 2024
8.    Morocco: July 8 - 22, 2024
9.    Turkey: July 18 - August 1, 2024
10.    Egypt: July 24 - August 2, 2024
11.    Morocco: August 2 - 16, 2024
12.    More information about these programs can be found at: https://geeo.org

Additionally, GEEO allows non-educator guests to join trips, should the recipient wish to bring any. To apply, educators may fill out an application here. There is no deadline to apply, but as applications are accepted on a rolling basis, those who apply earlier will have better chances.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Christina Gjelsten
Communications Coordinator
GEEO Teacher Travel Programs
p:  877-600-0105
w:  www.GEEO.org

UR Community Cares offers students Community Service Opportunities across Connecticut in 2 different ways.

Individual Volunteering - High School students (age 15-17 need supervision) can volunteer to support local residents who are aging and need help at home.  Volunteers sign up at www.URCommunityCares.org, we email them a parental consent form for their parent/guardian to fill out and they choose the category they would like to assist with, it could be helping someone with new technology, raking leaves/gardening, being a friendly visitor to play a game, and/or organize living spaces.  Students decide the schedule, they can go after school or on the weekends, and they pick the day/times in their online portal.

Group Volunteering - Students can go as a class with teacher supervision and perform yard clean-ups. The teacher would sign up as a partner on our website to see all the opportunities.

If students need community service for graduation, for a service project, or due to an arrest/court order/etc.  Contact Michelle, President 860-430-4557, or email michellepuzzo@urcommunitycares.org to discuss how your school can get involved or with any questions.

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its Connecticut State Chapter, Connecticut Education Technology Leaders Association (CTETL), are pleased to collaborate with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.

White House Cybersecurity Summit for K-12 Schools
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, the Biden-⁠Harris Administration announced new efforts to strengthen Cybersecurity in America’s K-12 school systems during an event held at the White House. First Lady Jill Biden was joined by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in welcoming school administrators, educators and private sector companies to the event to discuss best practices and new resources available to strengthen cybersecurity throughout our nation’s school systems. Keith Krueger, CoSN CEO, and Diane Doersch, CoSN Board Chair, joined the other participants at the White House for this critically important conversation.

During the August 8 White House Cybersecurity Summit several new and continuing federal initiatives were shared that aim to meet the growing challenges involved in assuring that cybersecurity is both a top priority and a successful endeavor for all school districts. To learn more about the current administration initiatives and read an overview of the August 8 White House Cybersecurity Summit for K-12 Schools visit this website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/07/biden-harris-administration-launches-new-efforts-to-strengthen-americas-k-12-schools-cybersecurity/

If you were not able to view the live stream of the August 8, 2023, Whitehouse Cybersecurity Summit for K-12 Schools, you can access the full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaH9oJdbQZk

CoSN has a wide range of resources on leading Cybersecurity Initiatives that are readily accessible at: https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/cybersecurity/

Roadmap to Innovation: CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Newsletter
CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation project management team is now producing a new free monthly newsletter called the Roadmap to Innovation Newsletter. Subscribers receive the Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory Board's tips, advice, and resources in order to impact global education changemaking efforts. To sign up for this free CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation monthly publication click the “Subscribe” button found at this link: Roadmap to Innovation Newsletter Registration

CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents edLeader Panel Series: Season 6 Premier
The CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents edLeader Panel Series begins its sixth season on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET, with “Leading Learning in the 2023-2024 School Year: Challenges and Opportunities”. The featured guest panelists are Dr. Carol Kelley, Superintendent of Schools, Princeton Public Schools (NJ), and Chair of CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Advisory Panel; Dr. Aaron Spence, Superintendent, Loudoun County Public Schools (VA), and Co-Chair of CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Advisory Panel; and Dr. David R. Schuler, Executive Director, AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The series is co-hosted by AASA and CoSN in partnership with edWeb.net and is once again graciously sponsored by ClassLink. Free registration for the September 11 broadcast – as well as access to previous broadcasts - is available at https://home.edweb.net/supers/.

CoSN Membership
If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact membership@cosn.org.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are delighted to extend an invitation to participate in the Virtual Parent Training Institute hosted by the Southern Connecticut State University Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning. 

A key factor in fostering successful students is the presence of caring, dedicated, and informed parents who prioritize education. Through the SCSU Parent Training Institute, conducted online, we aim to provide you with valuable resources and effective strategies that contribute to nurturing accomplished children.

The Parent Training Institute warmly welcomes parents of children spanning all age groups. For comprehensive information, kindly refer to the attached flyer. To secure your spot, please proceed with registration by visiting: Registration Link.

We look forward to your active participation and meaningful engagement.

Best regards,

Olcay Yavuz
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Coordinator, SCSU Early College Program  
Coordinator, SCSU EDL Internship Coordinator 
Phone: 203-392-5442 
Web Faculty Profile
Founding Editor JELPS
Coordinator IYLA

download the flyer

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes today participated in a ceremony at The Village for Families and Children in Hartford to celebrate the grand opening of the new children’s urgent crisis center operated by the nonprofit agency. It is one of four centers opening statewide created by legislation Governor Lamont signed in 2022 addressing the mental health needs of children and teens.

Licensed by DCF, the centers function as walk-in clinics, providing youths and their families with immediate access to resources while they are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, such as thoughts of suicide or self-injury; feelings of depression, anxiety, or hopelessness; out-of-control behaviors; substance misuse; and other mental health concerns. They are aimed at diverting youths and their families from making visits to emergency rooms to address behavioral health crises.

more information

Staying Balanced in an Unbalanced World: Using “Applied Improv” to Navigate the Changing World
Presented by Izzy Gisell

April 27, 2023 - Aqua Turf Club

Registration is free for school staff

We all need to be nimble, attentive, confident and creative these days in order to personally thrive while positively relating to others. Interestingly, the same is true of improv performers. In fact, the skills that make improvisers so successful are the same ones that make non-performers successful, both personally and professionally. Those skills include thinking on your feet, responding quickly and effectively to unexpected events, using your creativity and expanding your comfort zone without shrinking your safety zone.

more information/registration