Author Archives: Woody

Educators Reunite at Latino Benefit Gala

Orlando Valentin Jr. with Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims

Violet Jiménez Sims and Orlando Valentin Jr. took different career paths after being honored by the Alma Exley Scholarship Program in 2008 and 2016, respectively.

Their divergent paths crossed recently at the annual gala of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS) in Southington, Connecticut. The organization awarded five scholarships and honored seven educational leaders.

Dr. Sims began her career as a high school teacher and administrator before earning her doctorate and joining the faculty of the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. Now she is Managing Director of Academic Programs for the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program, one of the state’s initiatives to promote educator diversity.

Mr. Valentin began as a fourth-grade teacher before moving into leadership as Assistant Principal at Hanover Elementary School in Meriden. He is also an equity leader for schools in the Meriden region, and he champions efforts to recruit and retain educators of color in the Meriden schools.

“It was a pleasure to celebrate with Orlando,” said Dr. Sims, “and it’s gratifying to be part of an organization that supports and encourages promising Latino students and recognizes the accomplishments of Latino educational leaders across the state.”

Said Mr. Valentin, “I was delighted to catch up with Violet and learn about her work in promoting educator diversity through the Teacher Residency Program. And I was pleased to support the great work that CALAS is doing to recognize excellence among Latino students and professionals.”

Mr. Valentin and Dr. Sims are both married to educators. Tatiana Valentin is a third-grade bilingual teacher in Meriden. D’Andre Sims is a recruitment specialist with the New Britain Schools. Together, Violet and D’Andre own Sims Squared LLC, an educational consulting enterprise.

Scholarships and Awards

CALAS honored the following with scholarships:

Nicole Montalvo, a student at Waterbury Arts Magnet High School.
Ivanny Penn Mateo, a student at Platt High School in Meriden.
Lavinnia Nazareth a student at Central Connecticut State University.
Adalbyse Gonzalez a student at University of Saint Joseph.
Rocio Tinoco, a bilingual educator at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in New London, who is pursuing a degree in educational leadership at UConn.

Seven awards were presented for professional excellence.

Exceptional Teacher Award: Carmen Pagán, a bilingual teacher at Moriarty Elementary School in Norwich.
Policy Advocate Award: Fran Rabinowitz, executive director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS).
Outstanding Educational Leader Award: Sandra Cruz-Serrano, Deputy Executive Director of Capital Region Education Center (CREC).
Community Advocate Award: Maritza Acosta, Office Director of the Meriden office of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Equity Champion Award: Dr. Jason Irizarry, dean, Neag School of Education, UConn.
Exceptional Principal Award: Esmeralda Figueroa, principal, Parkville Elementary School, Hartford.
Outstanding Parent Advocate Award: Marlene Ho-Yen, manager of the extended learning program, Danbury Public Schools.

Latino Superintendents

Four Latino superintendents attended: Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Hartford Public Schools; Dr. Alberto Vázquez-Matos, Middletown Public Schools; Dr. Madeline Negrón, New Haven Public Schools; and Andrew Gonzalez, Lebanon Public Schools

Two African-American superintendents attended: Dr. Verna Ruffin, Waterbury Public Schools, and Iris White, Acting Superintendent of Bristol Public Schools.

A Dynamic, Growing Organization

Fifteen Latino educators in New Haven launched CALAS in 2015 to advance and support Latino educators and students. CALAS soon became one of 17 state affiliates of a national organization, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS).

CALAS now has more than 200 members across 38 districts, regional education service centers (RESCS), and institutions of higher education. The organization now includes superintendents, district and school administrators, teachers, aspiring teachers, retired educators, and higher education personnel.

CALAS’s mission is to foster quality and equitable public education for Latino students in Connecticut while inspiring, cultivating, developing, and supporting Latino educational leaders and talent. The organization is committed to expanding the Latino educator pipeline to Connecticut’s schools. To date, 20 high school and college students have received scholarships, resulting in graduates of bilingual education, world language-Spanish, and school social work.

2 Honorees Introduced in Virtual Celebration

Andrew Amaya and Brianna Bobo were introduced to the education community and supporters of the Alma Exley Scholarship Program in a virtual celebration recently on Zoom.

Both are preparing for careers as history teachers. Each received a $5,000 scholarship along with recognition of their potential to become outstanding educators.

Andrew Amaya with Woody Exley and Candice Tabone of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain at Foundation headquarters.

Brianna Bobo with Woody Exley at the West Hartford Library.

They are among 38 future educators who have received more than $130,000 in scholarships since the program was established in 1995. The program is carrying on the legacy of Alma Exley, who was working at the State Department of Education to bring greater diversity to the state’s educator workforce.

Compassionate Connections

Thanking the supporters of the program, Mr. Amaya said, “It’s important to have people of color in the classroom. It’s important for students to feel comfortable going to someone who looks like them, someone who has had similar experiences and is open to having a conversation to help them get through a tough time. High school can be a complicated time for a lot or kids, and it can make a different to have someone there who can help them through a difficult time, as it did when I was in high school.”

Mr. Amaya referred to a Hispanic mentor who was helpful to him in high school. “Hopefully, I can do the same for a student who may be feeling lost or out of place. I’ll be sure to make the best of the opportunity you have given me.”

Teaching is Serving

Ms. Bobo thanked the donors and the educators who inspired and encouraged her along the way.

“I believe the core of teaching is to serve,” she said. “It’s not what I do; it’s who I am. Whether I realized it or not, for my whole life I was preparing to be an educator. With this scholarship, I am fulfilling my lifelong purpose to serve my community through education.

“Three promises I pledge to myself and my community:

“One, to serve my students wholeheartedly;

“Two, to create a learning environment filled with acts of kindness, compassion, and patience;

“Three, to empower my students to contribute to creating an equitable society.”

She concluded by saying, “It means a lot to me to know there are people who believe in me, who believe in people who look like me, and who are making it a priority to support teachers of color to strive and create an equitable society.”

Congrats from Cardona

Secretary Miguel Cardona

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, 1998 Alma Exley Scholar, congratulated the recipients via video. Dr. Cardona, who received his bachelor’s degree from Central and graduate degrees from UConn, said, “I may be a little bit biased but I’m confident these excellent institutions are preparing you well for the next steps in your careers and your lives.”

Said the Secretary, “Educator diversity benefits all students. Diverse educators serve as positive role models in classrooms and communities. Diverse educators hold students to high expectations and develop trusting relationships with diverse students. This translates into tremendous social, emotional, and academic benefits for all students.

“To the teachers and aspiring teachers here tonight, you have the power to ignite generational change, to inspire hope, and to build safe, supportive school communities.”

2024 Diversity Champion

Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker

Also at the event, the Alma Exley Scholarship Program honored State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker as the 2024 Diversity Champion in recognition of her leadership in bringing more people of color into the state’s educator workforce. Read more on the Diversity Resources page.

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Education Commissioner is 2024 Diversity Champion

Connecticut Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker has been honored as the 2024 Diversity Champion by the Alma Exley Scholarship Program. She was recognized for her leadership in implementing a broad array of initiatives that have significantly increased the number of persons of color in the state’s educator workforce.

She was recognized at a virtual celebration held on Zoom to introduce the 2024 Alma Exley Scholars, Andrew Amaya, a student at Central Connecticut State University, and Brianna Bobo, a student at the University of Connecticut. Read more on the News page.

Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker

Commissioner Russell-Tucker is the third Diversity Champion the program has honored. The previous honorees are State Senator Douglas McCrory, 2022, and State Representative Robert Sánchez, 2023.

A Priority Focus

In accepting the award, Commissioner Russell-Tucker congratulated Mr. Amaya and Ms. Bobo and said: “Increasing diversity in the Connecticut educator workforce is one of the pillars of our work at the Department and certainly is a priority focus for me.”

She called the scholarship program “such an important part of this work” and added, “This award highlights the memory of Alma Exley and the incredible work she did throughout her life and career and serves as a living testament to her legacy.”

Many Diversity Initiatives

The Commissioner highlighted the results of some of the many programs implemented under her leadership to diversify the educator workforce.

Some 175 school districts have welcomed 977 new educators from other states who are working in Connecticut because of enhanced reciprocity in certification.

Aspiring teachers are getting help with licensing and testing fees through the allocation of $2 million in COVID federal funding to educator-preparation programs.

Twenty-nine students have received scholarships in the first round of a diversity scholarship program for students from priority school districts who are enrolled in educator-preparation programs.

Since 2020, more than 230 aspiring educators have received financial support while being placed in public-school classrooms in the NextGen program.

More than 500 high school students taking courses in the Educators Rising program to prepare them for teaching careers.

Better Academic Performance

“Why is this so important?” Commissioner Russell-Tucker asked. “We know from the research that all students—especially students of color—have better academic performance, improved test scores, higher graduation rates, and a greater sense of belonging and motivation when they are taught by educators who look like them.”

From the 2015-2016 school year to the present, educators of color have increased from 8.3 percent to 11.7 percent of the Connecticut educator workforce, which translates to more than 6,000 educators of color.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” she said, indicating that students of color account for 53 percent of the state’s student body. This is equivalent to more than 275,000 students out of a total of 512,652.”

“The need to create equity of access to a world-class educational system that supports all our learners is very clear,” the Commissioner added. “I’m so grateful for the work the Alma Exley Scholarship is doing to bring more educators of color into the pipeline and ultimately into the classroom.”