On March 7th, CAS is hosting its first-ever "Women in Leadership" conference! Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear and discuss the path to leadership of four successful women leaders in Connecticut’s education community. Their style of leadership, mentors and motivators along the way as well as impediments or issues faced on their journeys will be addressed. There will be time for Q/A as well as small break-out sessions to discuss ways in which schools can grow and develop leadership in young women. The esteemed panelists are: Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of CAS-CIAC; Dr. Gladis Kersaint, Dean of UCONN’s Neag School of Education; Dr. Penelope Lisi, Professor in CCSU’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Instructional Technology; and Dr. Suzi D’Annolfo, Retired Administrator and Past Milken National Educator Award Recipient. Many thanks to our conference sponsor, Horace Mann. Registration closes soon. Join us and feel free to bring a student-leader along!

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Schools across Connecticut are experiencing incidents of bias and hate with unsettling frequency. Join us on March 20th for Hate & Bias Incidents: Lessons from the Field and learn how to effectively respond to these complex incidents. This morning workshop, sponsored in partnership with CAPSS, CABE and the ADL, will include an interactive presentation and panel discussion.

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The Connecticut State Student Advisory Council on Education (SSACE) is now accepting submissions from middle and high schools for the statewide Challenge to Educational Citizenship Awards. The recipients of these awards embody the spirit of citizenship, commitment to serving others and altruism. Any student-organized activity that demonstrates intrinsic kindness is eligible for consideration. If you have a program or activity in your school that exemplifies civic awareness, cooperation, and boundless potential for community impact, please consider submitting a nomination.

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Student walkout protests - both ad hoc and in organized nationwide movements - have become the response of choice to the tragic school shooting that took place recently in Parkland, Florida. Walkouts challenge administrators to preserve both student safety and their First Amendment rights of free expression, all while maintaining an inclusive environment in which no student feels alienated. To help administrators strike that balance, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) examined a number of district policies, reviewed media coverage of walkout protests over the past several years, and consulted with a group of progressive school leaders to create guidance designed to complement district policies.

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At its meeting last month, the CT State Board of Education adopted “Standards for Alternative Educational Opportunities for Students Who Have Been Expelled,” as required by Public Act 17-220. In a memo memo dated February 21, 2018, Commissioner Dianna Wentzell explains the evolution of the new standards and offers some basic guidelines for their effective implementation. The standards call for the development of an individualized learning plan (ILP) for all students who have been expelled.

Last week, the Connecticut State Department of Education published the list of certification areas that have been designated as shortage areas for the 2018-2019 school year. This year’s list of shortage areas remains unchanged from last year.

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In conjunction with National Administrative Professionals Week, CAS will host the 2018 Administrative Assistants’ Conference on Friday, April 27th, at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. This one-day program is designed to support the daily work of school secretaries and administrative assistants and spotlight their important role in the success of every school.  Additionally, the CAS Administrative Assistant of the Year Award will be presented at the conference. This annual award recognizes a high-performing school office assistant who demonstrates excellent leadership, ongoing commitment to staff and students, and meaningful contributions to the overall school experience. Please consider making a nomination. Click here to download a conference brochure.

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Attention high school principals and guidance counselors! Encourage your students to participate in the Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual Law Day contest. High school students are invited to submit an essay or poetry piece, a multi-media piece or an art piece that reflects the 2018 Law Day theme of “Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom.” The submissions will be evaluated on originality, creativity, adherence to the theme, and overall quality. The winners – one per category – will be recognized at the Law Day event to be held on May 1st at the Connecticut Supreme Court, Hartford, where they will have the opportunity to meet the Chief Justice and Justices of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Click below for contest details and entry form. The deadline for submissions is April 6, 2018.

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For Connecticut educators aspiring to advance their careers and become a school district leader, the Executive Leadership Program through UConn's Neag School of Education offers a one-year program designed to prepare you to serve as a school superintendent or other district-level leader. Graduates of this program earn endorsement for the Connecticut Superintendent Certification (093) and gain the knowledge necessary for successfully meeting the challenges of district leadership in the 21st century. Learn more at the information session on March 22 at the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. Click here for details.

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The Connecticut School Counselor Association is holding its annual conference on March 22, 2018, at the University of Hartford. This conference is a full-day of professional learning and development specifically designed for elementary through post-secondary level school counselors. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together for Student Success,” will focus on strengthening collaboration between counselors and their school’s staff, administrators, community agencies and outside providers. Administrators are strongly encouraged to send their counselors – and are welcome to attend themselves!

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According to recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Connecticut is the 24th best state in the country. In determining the Best States rankings for 2018, U.S. News evaluated how each state performed in 77 metrics across eight categories. Predictably, Connecticut had a good showing in the areas of healthcare, education and crime but was brought down by its poor economy and infrastructure. Here's how Connecticut ranked in all eight categories evaluated by U.S. News:

• Crime and Corrections: 8
• Economy: 43
• Education: 14
• Fiscal stability: 41
• Health care: 4
• Infrastructure: 41
• Opportunity: 29
• Quality of life: 38

Click here to view the full rankings.

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