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In episode 17, Rosie Vojtek sits down with Renata Bowers, the national-award-winning author of the Frieda B. book series. Through her Frieda B. picture books, Renata has developed an engaging method for utilizing the written story to inspire students to move toward meaningful, relevant academic and social success. Also joining this month’s conversation are Amy Yost and Andrea D’Aiuto, two elementary principals from the Shelton Public Schools, who are using the Freida B. books, the Frieda B. Whole Child Toolkit, and other curricula materials to promote social emotional learning in their schools.

Meet the CAS 2020 Assistant Principals of the Year - Todd Manuel, Trumbull High School; Anjanette Belmonte, Henry James Memorial School; and, Garrett Dukette, Ashford School. These award-winning administrators share strategies for relationship-building, empowering students, building positive school climate, and maintaining the critical balance between work and home. Don’t miss this dynamic conversation with these extraordinary educators!

Meet John Pulcastro, a supervisory intelligence analyst with the FBI who is an expert on violent extremists and mass casualty attackers. Agent Pulcastro shares tips and insights geared specifically toward school leaders and educators who, because of their close relationship with students, are in a position to identify warning signs and engage in interventions. “I guarantee you that the teachers and staff you have out there have prevented acts of violence that they have no concept they prevented,” says Agent Pulcastro in this riveting and information-rich conversation. Listen as he discusses behavioral indicators and prevention strategies that can help keep schools and students as safe as possible.

This month’s guests are three veteran Connecticut principals - Mike Litke from Naubuc School in Glastonbury, Scott Nozik from West Hill Elementary School in Rocky Hill, and Victoria Reed from Highland School in Wallingford - who are longtime members of the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). The trio share their experiences as members of both CAS and NAESP, discussing the personal and professional benefits they reap and the value of aligning themselves with others who want the best for their schools and their profession.

“Cybersecurity absolutely warrants the highest levels of attention and resource allocation,” says Doug Casey, executive director of the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology, in what may be one of the most important podcasts we have produced here at CAS. Doug and fellow guests Ryan Kocsondy, director of the Connecticut Education Network, and Roberta Pratt, East Hartford Public Schools’ chief information officer, share experiences, resources and strategies to help school leaders navigate the often intimidating and murky waters of cybersecurity.

Past President Dr. Rosie Vojtek and CSDE Chief Performance Officer Ajit Gopalakrishnan explore the features and functions of EdSight, the state's education data portal, and talk about what school leaders need to know in order to use it effectively. Ajit provides an in depth look at the state's Early Indication Tool (EIT), which allows users to search, filter, export and analyze student data and uses statistical methods to identify students who may be at-risk of missing milestones and/or dropping out. Don't miss this informative and well-timed episode. Now that SBAC assessment data have been released, it addresses a very timely topic!

CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek chats with Robert Rader and Patrice McCarthy from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. Bob and Patrice, executive director and deputy director, respectively, share their thoughts on a number of hot-button issues impacting CT's education community. They discuss CABE’s legislative priorities, its efforts to promote diversity and cultural competence, and its powerful new initiative on civil discourse. Listen as Rosie talks with these two great friends of CAS who are also among Connecticut’s most respected thought leaders.

Meet CAS’ 2018 Assistant Principals of the Year - Joe Masi, Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted; Darlene Wallin, John Read Middle School in Redding; and, Joseph Macrino, Lewin Joel School in Clinton! These award-winning administrators share strategies for relationship-building, empowering teachers, building positive school climate, and maintaining the critical balance between work and home. Don’t miss this dynamic conversation with these extraordinary educators!

Meet the 2018 Connecticut Kid Governor (CTKG), Megan Kasperowski, from Brownstone Intermediate School in Portland! Inaugurated as the state's third Kid Governor last month, Megan ran on a cancer awareness platform. In Episode 9 of CASconversations, Megan opens up to CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek about the campaign process, her election victory and her plans for affecting change during her upcoming term. "I want to help those suffering with cancer and make their days happier," says Megan. Dr. Vojtek also engages with CTKG program head, Brian Cofrancesco, and Brownstone principal, Allison Hine. Learn how easy it is to bring the CTKG program to your school or district so your students can share in this rich, authentic educational experience!

In Episode 8 of CASconversations, CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek sits down with Doug Casey, executive director of the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology, to talk about their mutual passion: technology. Rosie and Doug explore the exciting work that the commission has underway, including its new partnership with EducationSuperHighway, its soon-to-be-released digital equity toolkit, and its history-making move to endorse the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for both students and teachers.

“Social media has created a situation where kids come to school less confident, feeling a sense of diminished value; and this is really impacting the climate in our schools. Kids are torturing one another,” states Patricia Ciccone, superintendent of schools in Westbrook, CT. Pat is renowned for her work in the area of school climate and, more specifically, the restorative practices model. In 2013 Education Week named Pat as a “Leader to Learn From” for her focus on school climate while serving as the superintendent of Connecticut’s Technical High School System. More recently, she was named by Education Week as one of 18 women educators internationally that all K-12 educators should know.

“If you’re an educator in this state and you’re not actively pursuing opioid education in your school, it’s a problem. The resources are there...and they are free,” urges Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Spector. In this episode of CASconversations, AUSA Spector talks about the alarming increase in opioid overdoses in Connecticut, the deadly rise in Fentanyl use, the urgent need for educating students and parents, and the free training and resources available to schools.

A retired law enforcement agent, Scott Driscoll is now president and founder of Internet Safety Concepts and co-author of “www.R U in Danger.net.” A longtime public school youth officer, Scott has dedicated himself to educating students about the dangers of the Internet and empowering them to use technology safely and productively. In this episode of CASconversations, Scott offers tips on Internet safety for students, parents, teachers and administrators alike. He touches on a wide range of issues from cyber-bullying to sexting to digital footprints. He also shares useful resources to help educators and parents ensure the appropriate and safe use of technology at school and at home.

Dr. Jo Ann Freiberg, CSDE Consultant and Co-chair of the National School Climate Council, is renowned in state and national education circles for her work in the area of school climate. In this, the fourth, episode of CASconversations, Dr. Freiberg discusses restorative practices and the positive outcomes achieved by schools that are implementing them.

"School principals have the most difficult job in education," states Fran Rabinowitz in Episode 3 of CASconversations. CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek chats with the new executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) about the state's budget impasse; CAPSS' ambitious plan for transforming CT's education system; the importance of high quality early learning programs; how technology has revolutionized education; and, the ideal relationship between the superintendent and the building principal.

CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek sits down with renowned school law attorney Tom Mooney to talk about the 2017 legislative session and its impact on school administrators; teacher evaluation practices; funding of the teacher pension system; and the importance of being disciplined in the use of social media and electronic communications.

The debut episode of CAS Conversations features CAS President Dr. Rosie O'Brien Vojtek and CAS Executive Director Dr. Karissa Niehoff discussing a wide range of topics, including developments at CAS-CIAC, CT's budget quagmire, new education-related state legislation, and the threat of education policy changes at the federal level.