Workshops
The Benefits of Context Learning, College, Vocational, Career Planning, and Federal Funding Programs – Albert Alba, PhD
This presentation will explain context lessons with respect to planning for college or a career. On line web sites related to classroom lessons, instructional resources, federal funding for job training, career interest surveys, small business resources, and federal and private agencies for schooling will also be discussed. The federal bonding program, vocational rehabilitation, and Work Opportunity Credit will also be discussed.
Dr. Albert Alba has worked for the State of Rhode Island for over 25 years as an Academic Instructor. Dr. Alba has earned the designation as a Highly Qualified Correctional Educator. Dr. Alba received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Secondary Mathematics Certification from the University of Rhode Island. He is a certified administrator in the State of Rhode Island and has completed his Master Degree in School Administration. He received a Doctorate In Curriculum and Instruction with concentrations in Secondary Mathematics, Technology, and Statistics. Dr. Alba is the Rhode Island Representative for the Correctional Education Association.
Theater and Creative Writing Programs that Support Education Using Affective Domain Strategies – Mark Aldrich, Patrick Kearney and Chris Belden
The Panel will discuss their experiences with conducting writing and theater workshops, using DVD clips that show part of the process, including reflections by the inmates themselves. We will discuss the implications that our program has for tracking inmate progress in class and beyond.
Aldrich has been the Library Media Specialist at Garner Correctional Institution for almost twenty years. He runs a program with volunteers who are theater arts professionals. He also supervises a creative writing program that is conducted by a volunteer author. Mr. Aldrich received his MFA degree in Applied Theatre from CUNY in 2014. He spoke in 2012 at the John Jay International Conference on Criminal Justice about the effects of his program. His findings were published as a case study in Jean McNiff's Action Research: Principles and Practice (Third Edition, 2013).
Patrick Kearney has played both coasts as Henry in The Skin of Our Teeth, Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, Cliff in Look Back in Anger, and Paddy in O'Neill's Sea Plays; he also created background voices for several Hollywood films. For seven years, he has been writing, directing, and performing with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, and joined its international fundraising tour for marriage equality. During the Newtown Arts Festival last fall, he played Father Flynn in Doubt. He volunteers at Garner Correctional Institution where he helps teach and direct inmates in its theater program.
Chris Belden is the author of two novels, Shriver (2013) and Carry-on (2012), and the story collection The Floating Lady of Lake Tawaba (2014). His essay "Inside Words: How to Teach Writing in Prison," won the 2013 Bechtel Prize (Suisan Orlean, judge). He has taught writing at Fairfield University, and for the past five and a half years, has led a creative workshop at Garner Correctional Institution.
Brass City Brawlers: Stories of Success – Richard Bachand
To the outside world, the team practicing on the less-than-perfect field is roster filled with players with sketchy pasts, or at best, they are unfulfilled stars, diamonds that stayed buried in the rough. But to Bachand, the owner and coach of the city’s new semi-professional football team and a self-proclaimed “second-chance guy,” they are the Brass City Brawlers, a group of Waterbury’s most talented and dedicated sons. Their mission: to better themselves and their community. “I just wish some of these people who have written these kids off could come and see what they’re really like,” Bachand says. “All these guys ever needed was a second chance.”
Bachand, 55, brings nearly three decades of coaching and teaching experience, his own story shaped by a second chance. Though deterred by a serious leg injury in his high school years, he became a walk-on player for the football team at SCSU, where he played little but observed a lot about the lasting impressions of gridiron brotherhood. He, along with a handful of seasoned assistants, is paying their collective football experiences forward.
Addressing Concerns about Students’ Mental Health – Craig Burns, MD
SanJae Educational Resources – James & Sandy Butler
James and Sandy Butler will provide an overview of several programs presented in the areas of GED 2014, ESL and literacy development for students at various skills levels. They will field questions at the end of their demonstration.
James Butler has a degree in engineering and has worked in the educational software distribution industry for over twenty years. He attends to sales and training in schools, prisons adult education centers and other training agencies at the local, state and federal levels.
Sandy Butler has an MS. in Education. She has been engaged in educational software distribution for thirty years. Her educational background combined with her passion to help others succeed has proven to be an asset at SanJae.
Aligning TABE to the New College and Career Readiness Standards – Chriss Cazayoux
TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) launched in 1967 continually adapts to meet the new standards in order to meet the needs of adult educators. This workshop discusses how TABE is realigning to the new CCR and changes in high school equivalency tests.
Chriss began his career with CTB in 1999 as Sr. Product Manager for Online Assessment. Once CTB established the first online, high-stakes assessment platform Chriss career took him to roles in technology consulting and higher education content. Chriss returned to CTB in 2013 with a focus on Adult Education. As National Specialist Adult Education, Chriss is responsible for public policy, RFP response, support, and evangelism of CTB Adult Assessments TABE and TASC.
Rock Bottom – from the Streets to Success – Michael G. Cooley
Hear from the CEO of a multi-million dollar company who was once abused, in gangs, incarcerated and homeless. Educators will be able to go inside the mind of someone who was locked up multiple times, in trouble with the law, only to end up incarcerated in then homeless living out of his car. Learn what and how educators played a role to get him from the streets to CEO.
Michael is a business development executive with over 25 years’ experience developing, growing and expanding companies through organic growth, mergers and acquisitions. His career took him from working in the mail room to being a CEO of a multi-million dollar company. Today, Mike is the CEO of an 80 year old records management company based in Providence, RI. and the author of Rock Bottom – from the Streets to Success. Mike continues to share his story and experience with as many people as possible. His hope is that they will benefit from the lessons and be inspired to be successful, whatever their definition of success.
Online Learning for Inmates – How We Did It – Kevin Corcoran
In February 2010, the first online course for CT inmates was launched within CRCI. Since that first session, multiple adult education and collegiate course sessions have run out of the Enfield facility. Come hear how this program was constructed and the impact it has had.
Kevin Corcoran has been the Executive Director of the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) since 2011. He joined the CTDLC in 1999 and has been responsible for developing and growing the products and services offered to support eLearning initiatives. Kevin also runs Connecticut's Adult Education Virtual High School that supports the Adult Credit Diploma Program state-wide. He currently sits on the WCET Steering Committee and co-chairs the WCET e-Learning Consortia CIG as well as the NENY Blackboard Users Group, and Northeast OER organizations.
Decoding Strategies for Literacy Development - Breaking the code of English! - Matt Crimson
Participants learn powerful strategies in developing essential skills necessary for strong fluency and comprehension. Learn how to use an explicit, systematic and age appropriate approach to rapidly improve grapheme-phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary and spelling. This method supports a variety of instructional scaffolding models to rapidly move students from foundational skills into reading comprehension.
Matt has 18 years of experience in providing implementation and professional development services in the use of alternative methods and resources to develop foundational literacy skills in older learners. Matt continues to work with county and state adult correction programs by bringing a unique perspective in the use of high-impact and age appropriate strategies.
Teaching in Corrections as an Adjunct Professor – Richard Daigle, PhD.
Importing programs from the outside can expand and enrich the educational experiences and quality of life potential of incarcerated men and women. Dr. Daigle discusses Mindful Meditation and PEP (People Empowering People) programs he has provided at various sites throughout the State of Connecticut. In addition, this workshop will examine various writing courses he has taught, with reflections on their benefit to the students with whom he has worked.
Richard J. Daigle, PhD. Is a member of the Meeting House Poets and has published in a number of journals. He was a guest professor at the Moscow State University where he taught “American Linguistics and Culture.” His broad world experience has extended into diplomatic channels where he has served as Assistant English Language Officer, USIS, U.S. Embassy, also in Moscow. His academic teaching experience includes courses in Creative Writing and ESL. He has been a professor of Linguistics at the University of Bridgeport where he also held administrative responsibilities.
Addressing a Multidimensional Quandary utilizing Cultural Competency
– Dwight and Loretta Dickerson
Participants will examine why the National Education Association (NEA) believes “Educators with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to value the diversity among students will contribute to an educational system designed to serve all students well.” Participants will engage in group activities to explore a five-stage transformative paradigm.
Dwight Dickerson is the founder and CEO of Tri-Cord LLC Empowerment Training Group which is dedicated to empowering the formerly incarcerated and their families and community with the tools to be successful. He is a motivational speaker and the author of the book Inner Thoughts.
Loretta Dickerson is the co-founder of Tri-Cord LLC, and is also a workshop facilitator. Loretta has worked with families and youth for over 20 years, both professionally and as a volunteer.
School Climate: What It Is and Why It Matters for the Incarcerated – Jo Ann Frieberg
This workshop will provide participants with up-to-date information about the overlapping arenas of school climate, anti-bullying, the National School Climate Standards and physical, emotional and intellectual safety in classrooms and the wider school setting to support teacher and student engagement and student academic, social, behavioral and life success.
Jo Ann Freiberg, a Consultant at the Connecticut State Department of Education, manages school climate improvement, bullying and character education. Her doctoral work at The Ohio State University was in professional and classroom based ethics. Her professional career as a classroom teacher, teacher educator and national consultant has been devoted to empowering the adults who teach and work with children to exemplify ethical and respectful behavior in order to create physically, emotionally and intellectually safe and positive learning environments. A member of the Connecticut task force on bullying, she also serves as the co-chair of the National School Climate Council.
“Dislecksia: The Movie” – Screening and Community Action Forum – Harvey Hubbell
Join award winning and entertaining Director Harvey Hubbell V as he presents dyslexia and learning differences through his powerful film Dislecksia: The Movie and moderate a Q&A panel discussion with leading experts. Dislecksia: The Movie is the first film to discuss dyslexia as a learning difference not a disability.
Harvey Hubbell V is an award-winning filmmaker. His documentaries have garnered over 55 film and video festival awards, including 4 Emmys. He has written and directed the multi-award winning comic documentary Electronic Road Film, which received an Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment Program. Loop Dreams, Harvey’s first feature length documentary, won the Gold World Medal for Comedy at The New York Festivals and three Emmys for Outstanding Entertainment Program, Individual Achievement for Directing, and Program Writing. Harvey’s latest passion project is a feature-length documentary entitled Dislecksia: The Movie, which leverages the power of film to mainstream dyslexia and learning differences and drive positive social change.
"The straight path was lost": Teaching Dante as a Catalyst for Transformation
– Ronald Jenkins, PhD.
Dante's "Divine Comedy" is a poem about hope. Written in the 14th century by a man in exile who had been condemned to death it tells the story of a journey out of hell through purgatory and into paradise. Men and women in prisons in Italy, Indonesia and America have been inspired by Dante's story to write about their own journeys and visions of a better life for themselves. This session will explore approaches to teaching Dante in prison.
Dr. Jenkins has taught in prisons in Indonesia, Italy, and America. He is a professor of theater at Wesleyan University and a visiting professor of literature and religion at the Yale Divinity School.
Changin’ Your Game Plan: How to Use Incarceration as a Stepping Stone for SUCCESS
– Randy Kearse
Changin' Your Game Plan: How to use incarceration as a stepping stone for SUCCESS is a practical prison reentry program that helps currently and formerly incarcerated prepare for the future. The program walks participants through a series of 50 plus soul searching and thought provoking chapters that will help guide them on their journey of change. Along with powerful chapter topics, questions and answers after every chapter, there are exercises that help keep participants further engaged.
Randy Kearse is a Positive Life Strategist. He creates solution based strategies to help people abandon destructive behaviors, reckless lifestyles and poor decision making. Leaning on firsthand experience, Randy believes everyone has the potential to change. He himself went from honor student to high school dropout to federal inmate #14866-057 for 15 years, to bestselling author, speaker, talk show host and filmmaker.
Contributions of Neuroscience to Education – Nicholas Montano
This workshop will introduce how neuroscience has evolved into neuroeducation. Discussion will include how the brain learns best. Topics will include emotions, cognition, biology of learning, memory function types and function (s), and neuro-development.
As an educational administrator and forensic handwriting examiner, Nick has dedicated the past 35+ years to studying neuroscience and educational applications of brain and behavior in the classroom and courtroom. I had the honor to present neuroeducation topics throughout the United States. Mr. Montano is active in civic, community, business, and professional organizations. He has spoken about subjects relating to psychology of handwriting, neuropsychology of written expression, and neuroeducation to many civic, education and professional groups. He is the recipient of the 2014 CAACE (Connecticut Association for Adult & Continuing Education, Leader of the Year Award.
NCCER - The Standard for Developing Craft Professionals – Susan Muggeo
NCCER sets the standard in construction education. NCCER's training process of accreditation, instructor certification, standardized curriculum and national registry is a key element in developing a skilled workforce of construction professionals. NCCER is widely used in many Federal and State Corrections Systems. This presentation provides an update on the construction industry, the NCCER curriculum and NCCER credential.
Susan Muggeo is the NCCER Executive Director in the Northeast. Overseeing all phases of business development and program implementation targeting apprenticeship programs, Career & Technical based secondary schools and colleges, corrections, and government agency-based craft training programs.
Using the TI-30XS Multiview Scientific Calculator – Carl Paternostro/USD#1 Staff
Student Learning Objectives: A Methodology for Gauging an Educator’s Impact on Student Learning – Susan Kirkendol, PhD. and Joseph Frey
As educators of students in secure facilities, an emerging challenge is measuring one’s impact on student learning given a host of variables. In this session, we will explore the use of student learning objectives (SLOs) as a measure of student growth for teachers that takes into account these variables.
Susan E. Kirkendol, Ph.D., supports the rollout of educator evaluation processes in several districts and states, including the implementation of student learning objectives as a measure of student growth in educator evaluation systems. Dr. Kirkendol previously served as a Senior Research Program Analyst for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Leadership for Educators’ Advanced Performance initiative. In that capacity she worked with teachers and administrators in low-performing schools to improve teacher effectiveness through the use of data to inform instructional practices.. Additionally, Susan has served as a Professor and Dean at Pfeiffer University and an Assistant Professor at Clemson University.
Joseph P. Frey is the Senior Project Director, the Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC) and is responsible for key CTAC education initiatives relating to teacher evaluation, teacher licensure and certification, performance-based compensation, teacher preparation, and state-to-district assistance. Mr. Frey previously served as the Deputy Commissioner, New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education. Mr. Frey made substantial contributions to the successful New York State Race to the Top grant award, and NYSED’s successful Teacher Incentive Fund grant award. He worked on the development of the Regents’ Teaching Policy, Teaching to Higher Standards: New York’s Commitment and was responsible for the implementation of the plan and development of the first alternative teacher preparation program in New York State’s history.
The Affective Classroom – Gabriel F. Riccio
To be successful, students must learn a variety of affective skills that often get overlooked in the teacher’s/instructor’s delivery model. Teamwork, interpersonal skills, metacognitive awareness, etc. are all important Career and College Readiness concepts and skills that must be learned to assure opportunities for success. By incorporating a variety of specific instructional strategies, the teacher is able to shift responsibility to his/her students for their own learning, enabling them to develop those necessary skills.
Gabe Riccio is currently the Director for Curriculum and Instruction for the Unified School District #1. He has written curriculum for correctional education classrooms in the Connecticut, Washington and Ohio. The basis for this workshop is the result of research and practice gleaned from those experiences, made systemic in USD#1 through the ongoing work of the district’s Affective Domain Committee.
Bringing Mindfulness and Meditation to Your Students – Valerie Rossetti and Tollie Miller
Participants will be introduced- through lecture and direct experience- to mindfulness and meditation. The stress response, mindfulness practices, and the benefits of mindfulness will be discussed. Learn about recent courses in Mindfulness and Meditation for D.O.C. educators and about ongoing meditation programs for inmates. No prior experience is necessary.
Valerie Rosseti, M.D., M.P.H., has studied and practiced mindfulness and meditation since the 1990’s and is a member of the Greater Hartford Sangha. She has been trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at the UMass Center for Mindfulness in Medicine and is a graduate of the Integrated Study and Practice Program at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. She is an anesthesiologist at Hartford Hospital and CT Children’s Medical Center and co-leads a meditation group for inmates at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution.
Tollie Miller, LMT, is a Rosen Method Bodywork practitioner and teacher. She is a member of the Greater Hartford Sangha and has practiced vipassana meditation for 12 years. She has been teaching meditation in MacDougall Correctional Institution for over three years.
Helping Students Engage with Text – Marg Stewart
This interactive workshop will provide the opportunity to directly experience, and then implement through your instruction, learning principles and strategies that best address the literacy skills students need to improve their understanding of text and become active, independent learners, and meet the expectations of the College and Career Readiness Standards and the Common Core State Standards.
For the past six years, Marg Stewart has been a teacher of mathematics, life skills & literacy strategies at the Hartford Juvenile Detention Centers in Hartford, CT. For over 20 years, Marg has been consulting to teachers and administrators in local and national school districts on scientifically research-based strategies and activities as well as differentiated instruction and co-teaching from preschool to adult learners. Marg is currently a Master Trainer for the Project CRISS content literacy strategies and the University of Kansas, Strategic Instruction Model. She is passionate about teaching teachers and students “how to learn” and how to create positivity in their lives and become more successful individuals.
Contextualized Learning – Richard Tarriff
Motivating Adult Learners: Self-Efficacy, Goal Setting, and the Learning Environment
– Luanne Teller
This session will provide an overview of a LINCS webinar series and study circle that focused on adult learner motivation. Research highlights will be discussed and participants will have an opportunity to share strategies they use to enhance learners’ motivation.
Luanne Teller is the Director of the SABES Coordination Center at World Education, Inc. She has a long track record of leading change in the ABE system, including creating and directing three adult education programs: a skills training and job placement program, an ESOL program, and a transitions to college program. Luanne earned her Certificate in Educational Leadership from the MA Community College Leadership Academy which required an action-research project through which she created the Transitions to College Program at Massasoit Community College. She is a nationally certified LINCS trainer in Program Management, Postsecondary Completion, and Adult English Language Learners.
Embracing Change in Adult Learning – Andy Tyskiewicz
Change is constant and is reflected in all sectors of work. As adult educators we have opportunities to take advantage of societal changes and to think “out of the box.” This session will provide an opportunity to discuss paradigm shifts, become aware of our comfort with innovation and provide an opportunity to organize local “design teams” to consider program changes
Andy Tyskiewicz is currently a coordinator at the Capitol Region Education Council and an encore graduate student in nonprofit management at Bay Path University. He previously served as Division Director for Community Education at CREC where he has been employed since 1986 as a trainer, manager and director. He has over 35 years of experience in the field of adult education additionally serving also as an ESL teacher, consultant, and Director of Field Services. Andy has an ED.M. from Boston University and a B.A. in Linguistics/Spanish from the University of Hartford. He has been involved in a wide variety of community development initiatives and has served on many boards and advisory committees. He served as national President of the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE).
Future Career Training with RealCareer Welding Solutions – Amy Underwood
Create a program to that gives training for future career paths today! Give your participants hands-on experience to gain proper welding techniques while engaging them in the career pathway of welding. Experience the RealCareer Welding Solutions including guideWELD VR welding simulator and guide WELD LIVE real welding guidance system to see how this solution combination will benefit your program.
Amy Underwood is an Account Manager for Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Vermont. She has been with Realityworks for the past two year and consults with organizations, agencies and schools to help make a difference in young people’s lives. Through her work she is raising awareness and implementing experiential learning opportunities in areas of Family and Consumer Sciences, Career and Technical Education, Health and Human Services a