The Plainville Community school district hosted a panel discussion on setting and influencing educational policy on August 14 at the Middle School of Plainville. Panelists included: Dianna Wentzell, Connecticut Commissioner of Education; Allan Taylor, Chairman of the Connecticut State Board of Education; Beth Bye, State Senator representing the 5thdistrict – Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington & West Hartford; early childhood educator; Executive Director of Auerfarm; Robert J. Rader, Executive Director, CABE; Patrice McCarthy, Deputy Director & General Counsel, CABE; Christopher Donovan, Political Action Coordinator, CEA; former Connecticut State House Speaker; and Christopher Poulos, Region # 9 teacher; 2007 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Educators from Plainville Community Schools and across the state attended the program.
The panel discussion was organized by Dr. Betty Sternberg, Director of the Teacher Leader Fellowship Program at Central Connecticut State University. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Maureen Brummett along with district and school leaders and teachers have been participating in the Teacher Leader Fellowship for the past two years. The CCSU Teacher Leader Fellowship taps into the expertise of classroom teachers and offers them an empowering fellowship to build leadership skills while still remaining in the classroom.