EASTCONN FALL 2024 Connections

Connections Fall 2024 | Volume 45, #1

Education News From Northeastern Connecticut

EASTCONN’s New ACCESS Initiative Brings Expert Team to CT Schools

ACCESS Leadership (left to right): Dr. Jacquelyn DuBois, Dr. Erin Dunn, Dr. Rose Jaffrey, Dr. Ravit Stein and Dr. Jennifer Connolly.

In a significant move to enhance educational support services across Connecticut, EASTCONN has announced the launch of its Advancing Consultation & Coaching to Empower Student Success (ACCESS) team.

Led by Dr. Ravit Stein, EASTCONN’s Director of Consultation and Professional Learning, ACCESS brings together a team of over 15 specialists, including doctoral-level school psychologists, behavior analysts, secondary transition consultants, speech-language pathologists, special and general education teachers and assistive technology experts. The program aims to help schools create more inclusive and effective learning environments through evidence-based practices and ongoing consultation.

See ACCESS, page 2

EASTCONN Unveils Innovative Mobile Manufacturing Lab at Ribbon-Cutting Event

Pictured (left to right): William Barber (GE/EB), Michael Nogelo (EWIB), Rep. Joe Courtney, Eric Protulis (EASTCONN), Paul Lavoie (State of CT) and Kristin Hempel (EASTCONN).

EASTCONN launched its state-of-the-art Mobile Manufacturing Lab, powered by General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 11 at EASTCONN Conference Center.

This groundbreaking initiative brings the future of industry directly to students, offering a unique, hands-on experience that See Lab, page 3

76 Hartford Turnpike Hampton, CT 06247

EASTCONN Connections ...ACCESS, from page 1

The ACCESS initiative represents an evolution of EASTCONN’s successful Psychological and Behavioral Consultation (PBC) Services, now expanded to meet the growing needs of Connecticut’s educational landscape.

“The heart of our work is that we’re really a community of learners,” said Dr. Stein, who has been with EASTCONN since 2011. “We use this word ‘hungry’ more often than any other word in our department. We’re hungry for knowledge, community, and pushing ourselves from a growth mindset to be better practitioners and better consultants.”

The ACCESS team provides a wide range of services, including implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, program development for academic and behavioral needs, co-teaching guidance, and strategic planning for school-wide initiatives.

Eric S. Protulis, Executive Director at EASTCONN, said the launch of ACCESS marks a significant evolution in the agency’s ability to provide comprehensive support to Connecticut’s schools.

“This initiative not only expands our capacity to meet the complex needs of our districts but also reinforces our commitment to fostering collaborative partnerships that empower educators and build sustainable, effective learning environments,” Protulis said. “With ACCESS, we’re setting a new standard for educational support in our region and statewide, driving positive change that will benefit students, educators, and communities for years to come.”

Dr. Jacquelyn DuBois, a Licensed Psychologist and Educational and Behavioral Consultant who joined EASTCONN in 2015, described ACCESS as “a community of talented, intelligent, driven individuals who are passionate about excellence, supporting high-quality education, supporting our students, supporting our districts, and supporting EASTCONN internally.”

The program’s success is reflected in its satisfaction ratings from partner districts. In a recent survey of 23 districts with 60 respondents, ACCESS consultants consistently received high marks for their evidence-based recommendations, meaningful outcomes, and overall satisfaction.

“We hold true to collaborating with our consultees, meeting them with what they need, using a responsive consultation model to best assess their needs from multiple perspectives,” said Dr. DuBois. “We establish a baseline, identify the most likely effective solutions based on best practice and evidence, and then monitor to make sure we are actually helping to meet the needs we identified: are our interventions working? Do we need to adjust? We use the same approach when evaluating our own consultation services. It’s really important for us to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.”

What sets ACCESS apart is its multidisciplinary approach, allowing schools to tap into diverse expertise for comprehensive solutions. Dr. Jennifer Connolly, an Educational and Behavioral Consultant who specializes in supporting students with complex needs, for example, recently supported a student who needed a different way to communicate beyond spoken words.

“We brought in our augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) specialist to help implement a communication system, and later, our assistive technology expert to enhance the student’s learning through technology,” said Dr. Connolly. “As a result, the student received far more support than any single consultant could provide.”

The ACCESS team is also committed to staying current with best practices in education. “I appreciate that this team continues to change as we learn more,” said Dr. Connolly.

“We often say: when we know better, we do better. That is

“The heart of our work is that we’re really a community of learners.”

– Dr. Ravit Stein

See ACCESS, page 3

Agency Professional Notes The Northeast Connecticut Childcare Needs (NCCN) Initiative convened at EASTCONN Conference Center in Hampton on Oct. 22, featuring presentations by Diane Gozemba (EASTCONN, pictured), Liz Fraser (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Merrill Gay (CT Early Childhood Alliance), Jill Marini (Connecticut Office of Early Childhood) and OEC Deputy Commissioner Elena Trueworthy.

Workgroups were co-chaired by Kristine Cicchetti (Northeast Early Childhood Council), Elle-Jordyn Sherman (Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce) and Christine Rosati Randall (Northeast Early Childhood Council), with additional leadership from Maggie Francis-Gietzen (NCCN) and Courtney Parkerson (The Connecticut Project). Over the next two years, the initiative will develop strategies to increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare, benefitting both families and the businesses that employ them.

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EASTCONN Connections

...LAB, from page 1

showcases the exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing, with a special emphasis on the naval and maritime sectors.

EASTCONN’s Mobile Manufacturing Lab addresses a critical need in Connecticut’s expanding manufacturing sector, particularly in the naval and defense industries, where high-earning positions are in high demand. By showcasing the technology and skills required in modern manufacturing, EASTCONN and its partners hope to inspire the next generation of innovators and skilled workers.

“Our Mobile Manufacturing Lab represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between education and industry,” said Kristin Hempel, EASTCONN Director of Adult and Community Programs. “This mobile lab will play a crucial role in showcasing the dynamic and rewarding career paths available in modern manufacturing, including those thriving in eastern CT.”

EASTCONN is particularly excited about its continued dialogue with our regional partners, who invest in supporting the Lab as an on-ramp for middle-school programming and a means to expand regional middle school engagement and exposure to the wide variety of careers in manufacturing.

“The manufacturers EWIB convenes through the Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance Regional Sector Partnership prioritize growing the future workforce,” said EWIB President & CEO Michael Nogelo. “The mobile lab will support that priority by making more youth aware of exciting manufacturing careers.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured presentations from Rep. Joe Courtney and industry leaders, including representatives from EWIB and General Dynamics Electric Boat, demonstrations of the lab’s capabilities, and opportunities for attendees to explore the mobile unit firsthand.

Please visit www.eastconn.org/Lab for more information.

...ACCESS, from page 2

the key to our practice and how we evolve. I think it goes back to the hunger and the passion of the team members who just want to get better and better, to never settle for the status quo.”

Looking ahead, ACCESS plans to expand its impact through university partnerships, including leading the Connecticut Psychology Consortium, which recently obtained membership in the national APPIC Match Service for doctoral interns in psychology. The team is also exploring collaborations with community organizations, such as their work with Day Kimball hospital on trauma-informed practices for first responders.

One unique aspect of ACCESS is its commitment to supporting working parents, particularly women working in educational leadership. “I want to empower female leaders who want to both advance their careers and be present for their families,”

Dr. Stein said. “We’ve created an environment where these exceptional consultants can do both.”

The ACCESS team’s ultimate measure of success, however, might seem counterintuitive: they strive to work themselves out of a job.

“Our end goal in every district is to not be needed anymore,” Dr. Stein said. “We evaluate our success by the degree to which districts can operate independently, having built their own capacity for supporting students effectively. We literally measure our success by the degree to which districts can do it without us.”

For more information about ACCESS services, educators and school administrators can contact Dr. Ravit Stein at rstein@eastconn.org or 860-428-0506.

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EASTCONN Connections Eastern CT Youth Find Purpose and Opportunity in CT Youth Employment Program This summer, 634 eligible young adults across eastern Connecticut embarked on a transformative journey through the CT Youth Employment and Training Program. The program, run by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) in partnership with EASTCONN, New London Youth Affairs, and Norwich Human Services, serves 44 towns across the region.

Participants aged 14-24 earn minimum wage for approximately 95 hours of work while receiving training in essential workplace skills and career planning guidance. The program exposes youth to in-demand industries like manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and environmental sciences.

“EWIB is proud to partner with funders and youth service agencies who deliver the CYEP, which this summer provided over 634 youth with work experience, a paycheck, and the work-readiness skills employers want,” said Michael Nogelo, President/CEO of EWIB. Over 135 worksites were developed across eastern Connecticut, ranging from cultural institutions like the Lyman Allyn Museum and Mystic Seaport to social service organizations such as FRESH New London and local municipal offices. Participants also attended workshops on financial literacy, labor laws, career decisionmaking, equity, mental health, and other essential skills.

Youth worker Daelen C. at Access Community Action Agency food pantry in Willimantic.

For many young workers in the Willimantic area, the program offered a first glimpse into employment and an opportunity to make a difference. Isaac B., 15, from Mansfield, worked at Covenant Soup Kitchen and found his perspective transformed.

“My perception was a very negative one when I first got here,” he said, “but I’ve met some very interesting people this summer.”

Youth workers Madison L. (left) and Keyanna M. (right) at Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic.

This shift in perspective was echoed by Daelen C., 15, who worked at the Access Community Agency food pantry: “A lot of people don’t have the resources that we have, so it’s very sad.

But I’m glad to help out... It’s a different outlook on things.”

The program also addresses critical staffing needs in local communities. Maria Rodriguez, Food Pantry Supervisor at Access Community Action Agency, emphasized the importance of youth workers: “On Mondays and Tuesdays we get shipments of supplies in Willimantic and Danielson from Connecticut Foodshare. If I didn’t have these [youth workers], I couldn’t make it happen.”

The initiative comes at a crucial time. A recent report by Dalio Education and the Boston Consulting Group revealed alarming rates of youth disconnection in the region, with some towns seeing 30-40% of young people neither working nor in school.

“It’s so important for the youth because they’re the future, and they have to find their passions, their career pathways,” said Kelsie Rivera, EASTCONN program facilitator. “What better way to do that than by getting paid to try different things and help others?”

While the summer program is the largest effort, EASTCONN continues to support about 40 youth throughout the year.

For participants like 15-year-old Gennadi F., the impact extends beyond just earning a paycheck. “I learned more about communicating with people and helping people more,” he said. “It feels exciting. I feel happy when I help people and I see that people are happy. I think it’s really going to help me in my future.”

To learn more about the CT Youth Employment and Training Program, please visit www.eastconn.org/youth-employment.

Executive Editor: Dona Prindle, Director of Marketing & Communications, dprindle@eastconn.org Editor/Writer: Michael Hamad, Communications Specialist, mhamad@eastconn.org Graphic Designer: Angela Dean, adean@eastconn.org

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76 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton, CT 06247 eastconn.org

EASTCONN Administration: Eric Protulis, Executive Director, eprotulis@eastconn.org