Member Needs Assessment

EASTCONN leaders meet regularly, either in person or remotely, with member district leadership and staff, to assess how well we are meeting their needs and to identify areas where we can provide added support. We solicit feedback and analyze data to identify regional trends, and respond as quickly as possible to districts’ educational and operational needs.

Regional forums provide another critical source of data. We host and facilitate free, regional meetings and councils across a range of pedagogical, job-alike and school-related topics, including: URSA/NASA with our region’s Superintendents, the Regional Staff Development Council, Arts Learning Council, Facilities Directors Forum, ConnCASE, Technology Council, Math Council, Science Council, Social Studies Council and Language Arts Council, as well as many other sub-regional and topic-specific groups, as needed. These groups explore regional challenges and solutions, as well as opportunities to collaborate in cost-effective, efficient ways in response to a range of needs (mental health services, improved public transportation, distance-learning strategies and early childhood programs, for example). Agendas are designed both to identify and address the needs of members. EASTCONN uses these data to expand its regional needs profile.

Each request for service reveals a district need. Program staff are trained to work in collaboration with EASTCONN customers to define and articulate the need that underlies each request for service. These data are then used to refine our understanding of regional needs. When additional data are required, needs assessments are conducted, using focus groups, regional forums, surveys, benchmarking and best-practice research.

This group of agency division leaders was established to develop new products and services and to recommend their phase-out when no longer needed. Team members collect and interpret regional data, identify new service needs, recommend the allocation of resources, and ensure the open flow of information with stakeholders and member districts.

Our Leadership Team oversees the strategic interests of EASTCONN and the customers we serve. The team includes the Executive Director, the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Human Resources, and the Directors of Adult & Community Programs; Business Office; Conference Office, Food & Hospitality Services; Early Childhood Initiatives; Facilities; K-12 Special Education Services; K-12 Student Services; Leading & Learning; Marketing & Communication; Research, Development & Innovation; Security & Investigations; Technology Solutions; Transportation; and the Administrator of ECHIP, the agency’s collaborative health insurance program. Each member of the Leadership Team develops annual program goals that respond to an assessment of our customers’ needs, as well as to federal, state and regional mandates, best practices and research in their respective fields. Collectively, the Leadership Team monitors progress toward both agency and program goals and ensures that we are collaboratively meeting our district member needs.