ACES Schools growing in Hamden

January 15th, 2018

Volume 8, Edition 1 - January 2018
by Laura Cannon

ACES Schools growing in Hamden

Shown left to right: Dr. Stephen Hegedus, Dean of the School of Education at SCSU, Dr. Angela Todaro, Director of Educational Services, Dr. Marie Nabbout-Cheiban, Associate Dean of the School of Educations, Caitlin Clarkson-Pereira, Coordinator of Student Services, Todd Solli, Principal of ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School, Carol May, Technology Director of WIMS and Ingrid Ellinger-Doviak, Instructional Coach at WIMS.

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) students who want to become teachers are getting into the classroom sooner.  Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) Executive Director Thomas Danehy says in the past, “You would only (student) teach in junior or senior year.  Here’s an opportunity for them to get in earlier, to see how classrooms work and how schools work.”

Earlier internships are one innovation in the partnership between SCSU and ACES.  Hamden’s Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School, which Danehy and SCSU Dean of Education Steven Hegedus recently visited, is among the schools that benefits.

Danehy credits Wintergreen Principal Todd Solli and ACES Director of Human Resources Carol Bunk for making the change in the student teaching program possible.  The same opportunities exist for aspiring school psychologists, social workers and librarians.

Student teaching is one of three major areas in which the college, and the regional school agency, work together.

A second is minority teacher recruitments, which Danehy describes as “an ongoing initiative to increase the number of minority candidates in the classrooms.”  He thanks Hegedus for working with “CAPS” the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, “to augment opportunities for people of color to join the work force for educational purposes.”

And two SCSU officials – Dean Hegedus and Director of Community Engagement James Barber – serve on the board of the ACES Foundation.  That’s a nonprofit that’s donated more than $90,000 for projects in ACES schools this year.  Those included a drama program, mindfulness educations, and a Pinewood (home-made wooden race car) Derby at the Whitney East and Whitney West high schools in Hamden.

Next year, Hamden will become home to the newest ACES school, at 130 Leeder Hill Drive.  After a renovation “as new”, it will serve about 260 special education students currently scattered among three sites on Skiff Street in Hamden.

Danehy says it will be a safer and more convenient environment.  “Right now, they’re going up the street for phys ed class, in all types of weather.”  That’s especially challenging for students with wheelchairs, feeding tubes and other equipment.

The new school will include the culinary, automotive and technology programs currently at Whitney North, and the CREATE program, now at Whitney East and West.  Danehy says CREATE is for “older students who are entitled to education up to age 21, and also gives them work opportunities.”

Principal Solli and his staff had the opportunity to showcase Wintergreen earlier this month at “Enter the Green”, an open house where prospective students and their families could tour the school and take part in “speed dating” talks with teachers.  A second open house is set for March 14, 2018.  Information sessions and tours take place each Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. (more information is at www.aces.org).

Danehy notes that Wintergreen families come from many other towns, from Stratford to Branford and in between.  “And that’s what a magnet school is all about.  Giving kids from different backgrounds an opportunity to work together in a school setting.”