April 1, 2008
Crowne Plaza, Cromwell
Second Annual Vanguard Schools
Conference and Celebration
High Performing and Significantly Improving Schools:
Lessons Learned from CT's Vanguard Schools
The Vanguard Schools Initiative focuses on school reform efforts that have demonstrated
success in overcoming the challenges associated with raising student achievement scores.
Successful schools that serve as model school improvement sites are identified. The mission
of the CT Vanguard Schools Initiative is to identify and recognize schools in which student
performance is high and/or significantly improving, and to share their evidence-based best
practices with other schools to help them with their own efforts to replicate and produce
effective practices.
Come dialogue about specific, effective school improvement strategies; the steps and choices
that result in success; and practical, useful tools and services for school and district leadership
teams.
Sponsored By:
- Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)
- State Education Resource Center (SERC)
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA)
Keynote Address
CT Schools making the Grade:
The Journey of Two CT Principals Achieving Results
Kathleen Grieder, Former Principal
Dwight Elementary School
Hartford Public Schools
Damaris Rau, Ph.D., Principal
Hamilton Avenue School
Greenwich Public Schools
Sustaining school improvement is at the heart of No Child Left Behind. In this era of increased
accountability for student achievement, many educators today struggle with implementing school
improvement efforts while also meeting the needs of all of their students. It is essential for schools
to demonstrate effective practices to sustain efforts to close achievement gaps. How can they meet
the demands of the legislation without leaving the students they serve behind? How can educators
incorporate the effective schools research to inform their practice? And what have successful
Connecticut schools and local school leaders done to raise student achievement and improve
student outcomes?
In this keynote address, the dynamic principals of two diverse, once struggling schools in
Connecticut districts will describe their journeys in transforming their schools into success stories.
They will discuss their demonstrated gains in student achievement over a short period of time.
Through their stories, you will hear of impressive results - one school, for instance, boasts the
third highest increase in student scores on the fourth grade CMTs over the last two years. You will
learn about dramatic increases - the other school, in four years, jumped from twenty-fourth to first
of twenty-six schools in its district on CMT scores. Most importantly, you will hear, from the
leaders themselves, how they implemented and sustained school improvement efforts to address
children’s needs and improve student learning and engaged families and communities to work
collaboratively with school staff in order to make great strides in closing the achievement gaps.
Registration Information
Registration will be on a “first come, first served” basis. There is a registration fee of $30.00 per
individual for the conference. Purchase orders will be accepted, but payment MUST be received
prior to the conference.
Check or purchase order should
be made payable to: Rensselaer at Hartford. Limited registration fee waivers and substitute
coverage stipends are available. Interested participants should indicate need for a waiver or
stipend in writing and attach to application form.
Please submit registration with check or
purchase order to:
Vanguard Conference and Celebration
SERC,
25 Industrial Park Road,
Middletown, CT 06457-1520
Applicants will receive written confirmation from SERC verifying
participation. Direct content questions to Patrick Flynn, SERC Consultant, extension 393, and registration questions to Heather Penfield, Senior Project
Assistant, extension 263, at SERC, (860) 632-1485.
