The two 6 p.m. Community Input Sessions will be Wednesday, Dec. 8th at America's Choice at SAND School and Monday, December 13th at Bulkeley High (above)

As announced last week, Achieve Hartford! is holding two Community Input Sessions, from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8th and on Monday, December 13th, designed to give voice to parents, educators, and all other community members, gathering and amplifying their insights about what is needed from Hartford's next school superintendent.

 
The specific focus will be on the qualifications, philosophy, and attributes that the community would like to see in its next District leader.  We have arranged for experienced facilitators and Spanish translation - along with child care services and light refreshments - to create welcoming environments at the two Sessions.

Shortly after the Community Input Sessions, Achieve Hartford! will provide an objectively summarized report to the Board of Education's search committee - and also will make that report publicly available through Achieve Hartford!'s website.

As an independent nonprofit organization, Achieve Hartford! acts as a catalyst for improvement of, and community involvement in, the Hartford Public Schools.  We are pleased to conduct these dialogs because we believe the community's input is crucial to the process of sustaining momentum toward school improvement; in the long term, schools improve more when the community as a whole is engaged.

The two Community Input Sessions will be held:
> Wednesday, December 8th, 6-7:30 p.m., at America's Choice at SAND School, 1750 Main Street; and
> Monday, December 13th, 6-7:30 p.m., at Bulkeley High School, 300 Wethersfield Avenue

Ways to Participate in the sessions:
Achieve Hartford is reaching out to anyone who has an interest in the District new leadership.  People can participate in the sessions in two ways:
 
ATTEND ONE ... AND SEND ONE.  Come to one of the two Community Input Sessions to provide and listen to perspectives - and encourage others to participate as well; and

HELP SPREAD THE WORD.  Post the attached flier on bulletin boards and share it with those you know who have an interest in maintaining the momentum toward school improvement in Hartford.

For more information, visit Achieve Hartford! online at www.achievehartford.org or call us at 860-244-3333.

Spotlight: Board Member and Secretary Lori Hudson

From time to time, Education Matters! spotlights individual members of the Hartford Board of Education as unique resources for the long-term success of the Hartford Public Schools.  These highlights will include general background information as well as responses to interview questions meant to reveal the Board members' insights on how to improve the Hartford Public Schools.  Today we are featuring Lori Hudson, who has an eight-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter in Hartford schools.  A political newcomer, Lori was the top vote getter in the 2008 election for four board members, after campaigning on making the connection between parents and the School District. 

Lori works for the Metropolitan District Commission as a Senior Customer Service Representative, where she is one of the assistant supervisors for the commission's customer call center and is a leader in addressing issues of diversity. She also is an ordained minister and a member of the Phillips Metropolitan C.M.E. church in Hartford, where the Rev. Arthur S. Green is pastor. She serves as the Minister of Music; a position she has held for the past 22 years, and serves on the ministerial staff.

Lori sees two major challenges confronting the Hartford Board of Education today: Continuing to close the achievement gap and selecting a new superintendent aligned with the reform effort.  Indeed, she points out, sustaining progress toward closing the achievement gap will depend hugely on the capabilities that the new superintendent brings. As a parent, Lori also is very concerned that the District "bridge the gaps" with parents, the community, and the unions, in ways that get past the distraction of politics and cause all parties to come together and do things for children. 
 
In addition, she strongly believes that improving communications between parents and the community entails advising parents what they need to know about budget constraints, legal mandates, and other requirements facing the District in the present tough economy.  Even though the District has a long way to go, she added, students today have an increasingly practical set of choices with the "tremendous" new school models that enable young people to envision themselves in careers.  "We have an insurance academy in the world's largest center for insurance; students are asking, 'What is an actuary?'  They're thinking about biochemistry and graphic design.  Through choice, we're giving young people options where they can actually see a future."

Achieve Hartford! looks forward to working with Lori, and the entire Board of Education, in supporting long term improvement in Hartford's schools.