Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism
CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut

Op-Ed: Hartford schools can forge ahead under new leadership

  • CT Viewpoints
  • by Syeita Rhey
  • October 27, 2014
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

After months of meetings with teachers, students, and other community leaders, Superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez shared the key findings from her listening tour at a recent press conference. As a teacher, I applaud Dr. Narvaez and her transparency in releasing her transition plan, commitment to visit all Hartford Public Schools, and inclusion of teacher input.

Like many of the students I teach, I grew up in poverty in Hartford. At four years old, I was taken from my single mom by the Department of Children and Families, separated from my siblings, and placed into the foster care system.

During this time—as some of my siblings moved from foster home, to group home, to homelessness — I was taught the harsh reality that a high quality education was not guaranteed to everyone. I realized that the only way to stop this seemingly endless cycle of poverty was through a commitment to education.

Fortunately, with the guidance of my second grade teacher, Ms. Johnson, I discovered that my special education label was erroneous, and was exited from special education. Ms. Johnson also helped me to cope with my challenging home situation and gave me the support I needed to ensure I would excel. Later, I went on to be the first in my family to graduate from college, graduating from Trinity College in Hartford in 2007. Recognizing the power of education in my life ultimately led me to realize my passion, teaching.

As a committed teacher, I fully believe our school system can fulfill its promise of providing all Hartford students access to an education that will allow them to not only beat the achievement gap, but also compete globally.

But this vision will only come to fruition through strong and effective leadership that values the collective efforts and voices of all stakeholders. Our achievement gap has existed for some time, and this is not a problem that can be fixed on the back of one single leader. It is time for collaborative leadership, which relies on the collective efforts of teachers to ensure educational excellence for all children.

Teachers’ voices are critical to increasing student achievement. Research confirms that teachers are the most important school factor in how much children learn, and no one understands better the urgency of a quality education than an effective teacher.

This is a major factor that has inspired me to join an organization called Educators 4 Excellence (E4E), a teacher-led group that advocates policy changes to positively impact students and elevate the teaching profession.  I am currently in my eighth year of teaching in my own neighborhood in Hartford.

As I work in partnership with teachers across the district, I find an even stronger belief that, together, teachers can create greater possibilities for Hartford children. For students like me, whose education and life outcomes are greatly influenced by teachers, teachers like Ms. Johnson.

It is clear that Dr. Narvaez believes leadership centers on the inter-working of the entire school community, and this gives me great hope. As long as teacher voices are valued and continuously sought in future decisions, I am optimistic that under this new leadership, a high quality education will not only apply to the economically and racially privileged but also to the disadvantaged children of Hartford.

All students should be afforded the opportunity to have an excellent education regardless of where they reside, their socioeconomic status, religion, or ethnicity, and I welcome Dr. Narvaez to join Hartford educators in making this a reality for Hartford students.

Syeita Rhey is a fourth grade teacher at Burr School, in her eighth year of teaching in Hartford, and a member of Educators 4 Excellence – Connecticut.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Equity for women and girls essential to rebuild Connecticut’s economy
by Jennifer Steadman and Michelle Riordan-Nold

As Connecticut’s economy seeks to recover and rebuild, our success as a state will depend on how we respond to the disproportionate adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women and girls, particularly women and girls of color.

Connecticut immigrants deserve health insurance
by Brooke Lifland, MD; Tanner Bommersbach, MD; Marco Ramos, MD PhD; and Eden Almasude, MD

Connecticut should pass House Bill 6334 to expand health insurance to all immigrants regardless of status. Our state wisely chose to protect the immigrant community by using Emergency Medicaid funds to cover expenses associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment for residents who were excluded from Medicaid based on their immigration status.

Truth or consequences: The impact of lie-based politics
by Charles M. Ericson and Sedona Ericson

A radio show by the above name, emceed by a man named Ralph Edwards, became a big hit starting in 1940. It eventually became a TV show, and all told, it lasted for decades. The format of the show was to be asked a question, and if it was not answered truthfully, the contestant submitted to undertaking a silly stunt of almost any kind. The show seemed reflective of a culture that valued untruth for perceived rewards, however trivial.

Recreational marijuana and sports gambling will be all around us
by Steven Block

It is likely that every other state in the Northeast will regulate both marijuana and sports gambling within a few years. The passage of these important bills in 2021 will allow Connecticut to become a competitive force in the region rather than an island of legislative stagnation.

Lamont’s new vaccination priorities are simple and smart
by Richard Davies

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s new age-eligibility vaccine plan is simple, smart and straightforward. The more complicated the rules are, the greater the chance of screw-ups and of well-connected people getting their shots before they should. The governor is doing a good job.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Equity for women and girls essential to rebuild Connecticut’s economy
by Jennifer Steadman and Michelle Riordan-Nold

As Connecticut’s economy seeks to recover and rebuild, our success as a state will depend on how we respond to the disproportionate adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women and girls, particularly women and girls of color.

Opinion Connecticut immigrants deserve health insurance
by Brooke Lifland, MD; Tanner Bommersbach, MD; Marco Ramos, MD PhD; and Eden Almasude, MD

Connecticut should pass House Bill 6334 to expand health insurance to all immigrants regardless of status. Our state wisely chose to protect the immigrant community by using Emergency Medicaid funds to cover expenses associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment for residents who were excluded from Medicaid based on their immigration status.

Opinion Truth or consequences: The impact of lie-based politics
by Charles M. Ericson and Sedona Ericson

A radio show by the above name, emceed by a man named Ralph Edwards, became a big hit starting in 1940. It eventually became a TV show, and all told, it lasted for decades. The format of the show was to be asked a question, and if it was not answered truthfully, the contestant submitted to undertaking a silly stunt of almost any kind. The show seemed reflective of a culture that valued untruth for perceived rewards, however trivial.

Opinion Recreational marijuana and sports gambling will be all around us
by Steven Block

It is likely that every other state in the Northeast will regulate both marijuana and sports gambling within a few years. The passage of these important bills in 2021 will allow Connecticut to become a competitive force in the region rather than an island of legislative stagnation.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO