« Back to News List

Connecticut's Educational Policy Fellows Participate in National Policy Seminar: Debates to Decisions

April 2nd, 2018


Connecticut's Educational Policy Fellows Participate in National Policy Seminar: Debates to Decisions

Connecticut Educational Policy Fellows recently participated in the Institute for Educational Leadership’s 54th Annual Policy Seminar,  From Education Policy Debates to Decisions. The Policy Seminar focused on federal policy, the federal-state interplay, and national trends dominating the present policy atmosphere. Over three-hundred policy fellows from across the country spent four days learning together and sharing expertise. Guest speakers featured Roscoe Jones, Sr., Civil Rights Activist and Founder Freedom 64 and Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute.

The Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) is the nationally recognized leadership development program sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) and managed in Connecticut by Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES). The 2018 Connecticut Educational Policy Fellowship Program fellows include Helene Becker and Kristi Bellara,  Norwalk Public Schools; Carrie Chiapetta, Regional School District 15; Jill Johnson, Explorations Charter School; Anna Machial, New Britain Public Schools; Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, ACES and Anjanee Wright, CREC. Leslie Abbatiello, Director of ACES Professional Development and School Improvement Services directs the ACES-based program.  

“Three pillars underpin the Educational Policy Fellowship Program experience: policy, leadership, and networking. The Washington Policy Seminar is a key learning and networking opportunity that gives the national cohort of Fellows an opportunity to come together and engage in panel and breakout sessions, site visits, national forums, and simulations, all intended to broaden the Fellows’ understanding of public policy, shared Sarah McCann, Coordinator, National Education Policy Fellowship Program. 

The Educational Policy Fellowship Program is a ten-month learning experience for professionals with strong leadership abilities and a concern for issues important to children and education.  Participants work full-time in K-12 public school districts, universities, RESCs and non-profits. Applicants are also accepted from business, municipal and state government, and boards of education. Fellows are typically endorsed and supported by their employer. For more information on Connecticut’s Educational Policy Fellowship Program, go to www.aces.org/epfp.

Connecticut EPFP Fellows, Kristi Bellara and Helene Becker of the Norwalk Public Schools met with U. S. Congressman Jim Himes, of the 4th Congressional District to discuss educational issues, including cuts TO THE Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Medicaid funding and how these cuts will negatively impact Connecticut’s most vulnerable students. 

Kristi Bellara, Helene Becker, and U. S. Congressman Jim Himes Kristi Bellara, Helene Becker, and U. S. Congressman Jim Himes
« Back to News List