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Norwalk Education Foundation125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851Tel: (203) 854-4068www.norwalkeducation.org

NorwalkEducationFoundation2011Annual Report

STAFF/BOARDOur dedicated staff and board members work tirelessly topromote excellence in education for all of Norwalk’s students.Board of DirectorsOfficers:Directors:Robin Guarnieri, ChairmanTalent Management ConsultantRight ManagementEdward AbramsVice PresidentIBMCharles HarrisAttorneyHarris, Harris & SchmidPaula Palermo, Vice-ChairmanPresidentTechSmart ServicesMargaret CostaOwnerAries ProductionKelley HefferanVice PresidentWebster BankVerna Holder, TreasurerVice PresidentMBIA Insurance CorporationGloria Tenofsky FalconeCommunity Marketing DirectorMain Street ConnectDr. Susan Marks, Ex OfficioSuperintendentNorwalk Public SchoolsMonica Orban, Recording SecretaryTeacherRoton Middle SchoolJames GarlandComptrollerNorwalk YMCARobert McCainPrincipalNathan Hale Middle SchoolStaffLauren Rosato, PresidentKris Francefort, Managing DirectorCathy Killeffer, Program ManagerSuzy Aubrey, Data Analyst & Program AssociateSara Vogel, Technology Program Consultant“The staff and board continually think about how best to addressneeds in Norwalk. NEF doesn’t just rely on doing the same thingyear after year - the organization is always reflecting on what itdoes, what it should be doing and how well it is doing it.-NEF DonorDear Friends:Because of you, the Norwalk Education Foundation continues to be astrong and active advocate for the Norwalk Public School system.For over a decade now, we’ve worked hard within and across our communityto increase awareness about essential educational issues, introduce criticalnew resources and best practices for our teachers, and offer high qualityprogramming to the benefit of all Norwalk students.Our board, the NEF team, and I appreciate your sustained support of ourmission and hope you’ll continue your commitment to our ongoing workin helping to bring Norwalk the state-of-the-art school system it so richlydeserves.Your contribution this year will benefit Norwalk’s 11,000 public schoolstudents by directly impacting the quality of their education.We thank you again for your support-Lauren Rosato, President“

10,000 EMCOR GroupGE Capital AmericasJPMorgan Chase FoundationMarion Moore FoundationMcGettigan, EdwardNorwalk Children’sFoundationRowayton ElementarySchool PTOThe Edward S. MooreFamily FoundationThe Fairfield CountyCommunity FoundationThe Perrin Family FoundationUnited Way of CoastalFairfield CountyXerox Foundation 5,000- 9,999Dancing Tides FoundationHouck, GlennKurt Feuerman FoundationPepperidge FarmThe Brewhouse RestaurantThe Daphne Seybolt CulpeperMemorial FoundationYWCA Of Greenwich 1,000- 4,999Bank of America CharitableFoundationBass, JustinBeyman, JonathanEydt, Robert and AnnFairfield County BankGlobal RecruitmentSpecialistsHussey, Chris and AnneIBM Employee CharitableContribution CampaignKieburtz, GeoffLone Pine FoundationMellion, BruceMurphy, WilliamNellie Thomas Trust/The Hour NewspapersPDC InternationalCorporationSouthern AirStolt Nielsen USASwisher InternationalThe O’Herron FamilyFoundationThe Vineyard FoundationTullett Prebon (Americas)HoldingsUlman, Jeff and ShariWilson, WilliamYoung, William and LaurieOUR DONORS 500- 999A New SchoolBenefit Planning ServicesBrinton Thomson, LisaFrancefort, David and KristineGuarnieri, Lou and RobinHarris, Charles and CarrollJohnson, James and KateKamisher, EricKing, TraceyLivingston, Thomasand WendellMatthews, Richardand JenniferMBIMBIA FoundationMcCarthy, DavidMorrison, Peterand Page McBrierNorthMarq CapitalOrban, MonicaPalermo, Paul and PaulaRichardson Jr., LunsfordRossetti, JamesStein & Troost ArchitectsThe Maurice GoodmanFoundationTigernet SystemsWebster BankWells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gift 250- 499Boll, Jay and TinaCole, WilliamFerguson & DoyleGarfunkel, AndrewHolder, VernaKeogh, Burkhardt and VetterKonstantin, Neal and CathyMain Street ConnectMarks, SusanMcBennett, JohnMcCain, RobertMecca, LeonardMutual Security Credit UnionOldham Resource GroupSalerno, HildaSmith, EricWestport Capital Markets 100- 249Arsenault, Brian and EllenBegos, PatBeluk, PaulBishop-Pullan, JodiCafero, Donald and LorraineCampbell, Ellen BayleyChuba, MichaelCurtin, PaulDiageo North AmericaGell, NanceeGordon FoundationHenson, Philip and AndreaIgneri, JohnKeogh, John and GeorgiaKilleffer, Lou and CathyKimmel, BruceKretsch, Thomas and SandiMaloney, JohnManby, NancyMartin, Robert and GinnyMcDougall, AlanMcGowan, MichaelMeany, Dennis and NancyMoynihan, AbbieNeafsey, Jack and RillaNorwalk Book SalesPark Street Sunshine FundPearce, BethPetrides, BillPisacane, Frank and MariePramer HouseholdRestivo, Ron and SharonSkipper, JonathanStecker, JohnSweeney, Mike and ChristyThe Tombros FoundationVineyard, Andrew and TeriVogel, Mel and SaraWallerstein, Steven and SusanWidmann, KerenNEF ContributorA E&T Worldwide InsuranceServicesAikenhead, Carol and ThomasAndretta, AndreaAnto, M RAries ProductionsAubrey, Michael and SuzyAuwarter, RichardBarbis, MichaelBarr, TamikaBeacon Projects Group AssociatesBehnken, AnitaBeinfield, KathyBonasera, MarkCavello, RobertCollins, Bill and Tish GibbsCosta, JohnD’Alessio, PhilipDeCesare, Donald and CathyDeJaeger, Ken and JoyDeSimone, RobertDiTaranto, MarkDobbs, James and PetraEmmerthal, MarjorieFive Mile River MarketingFrankel, EileenFriedman, SandraGarcia, JorgeGonya, BobGovoni, StephenGrey, Lou and BettyGude, Karl and DorseyHamilton, SusanHarris, Charlie and CarrollHeliotis, ArthurHenderson, LisaHendrickson, JohnHensinger, GeorgeIannazzi, MarieJellerette, Troy and DianeJP Morgan Chase FoundationMatching GiftsKatz, AmyKelley, Susan FrankKing, Peter and JanKnight Street AutoKoch, LoisKonstantin, Anatoleand RosariaLavielle, GailLexpress InternationalLight, AndreaLoris, Richard and MargaretMajor, FloraMaria, FoxMasse, SusanneMassey, John and LynneMcCammon, DianaMcQuillen, PatriciaMerrill, Andrew and EricaMortelitti, CarlaNowack, RobertNowicki, Januscz and DanutaOberst, GaryO’Connor, Patrick and MaritzaPalermo, ConniePank HouseholdPetrini, JerryPivor, JeffreyRaise High ConstructionRosati, AnnRosato, Michael and LaurenRotner, Alterand Felicia RozekRukavina, AnaScatamacchia, Stevenand TheresaSchlater, Frank and NancySgaglione, JudithSilk TouchSnelson, LoisStearns, KendraSuda, PatriciaSutton, JohnTejada, Rafael and DanielaThe Lord, Abbett & CompanyThorp, GabrielleTinto, PatriciaTroetti, Andrew and SuzanneWalcott, IsaacWaring, AdelaideWettergreen, FinnWhitehead, James and JoanWhitton, BrettWilliamson, LaurieWilms, FriedrichWrinn, DavidXl Global Services

OUR PROGRAMSTeacher ExcellenceTechSmart Teachers- NEF offers professional development in technology so teachershave new tools to use in their classrooms. Teachers train teachers. Classes this year includedSmart Boards, Study Island, Clickers, Sharepoint, Moodle, and Microsoft Suite.This year 312 teachers (49% increase) participated in 42 technology classes (a 24% increase).Tech Liaisons- 23 NEF Technology Liaisons (TLs) in 19 schools coordinate and participate inthe advancement, fluid maintenance and integration of technology for their buildings. TLs are theconduits for communication between the technology department, teachers and administrators.This year over 3,600 technology issues were resolved by the TLs, resulting in a 46,150 savingsto our school district.TechSmart Community- New this year, NEF, in collaboration with Norwalk Public Schools,started offering a series of technology courses that are open to the public. Proceeds will beused to fund key training for Norwalk teachers – resulting in higher levels of classroom instruction for Norwalk’s students. Classes offered last spring included Picasa, Google Docs, LinkedIn,Gmail.Teacher to Teacher- We inspire teachers to wholly embrace and adopt innovative, experiential classroom skills essential for students to compete in an ever-changing global environment.Teacher to Teacher provides creative, hands-on collaborative professional development workshops for teachers by teachers.Classroom Innovation Grants provides funds directly to teachers for projects that demonstrate innovative classroom instruction, foster hands-on, interdisciplinary experiential learningand engage families.“The NEF is unique in that it supports and fundseducation in ways that the School District is unable to. It supports wonderful programs likePower Hour and TechSmart Teachers.- Librarian/Tech Liaison“

After School ProgramsAdvocacy and CommunityMiddle School After School nurtures a vibrantThe Norwalk Education Foundation seeks to be a catalyst forchange and a partner in improving Norwalk’s ability to educatestudents for the future. Our advocacy objective is to be a forcefor improving the educational process and marshall communitysupport to improve educational outcomes for all of Norwalk’sstudents.Classes offered this year included Digital Arts, Swimming,Chess, Cooking, Rowing, Outdoor Survival, Garageband,Newspaper Club, and others. Over 340 students (a 55%increase) participated in the program and 33 engagedteachers offered 27 enriching classes.NEF builds capacity, improves networking amongour schools and with community organizations, promotescommunication around important issues and aids inleadership development.after school environment to enrich and connect students’in-school learning with meaningful extended day activities.Engaged students, parents, teachers and community members create a unique blend of opportunities for all middleschool students.Middle School After School CommunityCollaborations- New this year, five Norwalk orga-Advocacy initiatives include:Election Debates- featuring Board of Education andlocal city candidates.nizations par ticipated in the after school program.Free swimming classes were offered, students playedchess and also learned new venues in technology. Localprofessionals were exemplary role models and studentsdeveloped greater self-confidence and self-esteem. 86students benefitted from the program.Board of Ed Filming-highlighting bi-monthly meetingsso that our community is aware of what’s happening in ourdistrict.Power Hour- A free after-school literacy programoffered to elementary school children, taught by NorwalkPublic School teachers and instructional aides. It increases young people’s motivation to read and builds theirliteracy skills.Education Films- co-sponsor valuable viewings for theCommunity Conversations- taking a lead role toimprove Norwalk Schools and after-school programs.community, followed by panel discussionsThis year 167 students enjoyed an extra 138 hours of reading.Member of Norwalk Collaborative for YouthSuccess- an inclusive collaborative of organizationsAfter the Bell- In partnership with Norwalk PublicSchools, NEF collaborated with families, businesses, fundersand community agencies to create a high-quality, academically enriching, accessible and affordable extended learningday program available to students of all economic strata.Planning Committee Member of NorwalkACTS- a network of over 40 community leaders and organi-After the Bell is in four elementary schools, with 881students participating in 50 enriching after school classes.52% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch.“It has been great to see students show a side of themselves that you would not see in a regular class. Theywill often push themselves when given the opportunity to stretch in ways that are often surprising.- Program Instructor“dedicated to supporting and inspiring life-long learning andachievement among Norwalk youth through the delivery ofhigh quality after-school programming.zations working together to actively and directly improve thelives and futures of all Norwalk children.“It’s an excellent organization, especially in timesof budget “crunch”, when schools just cannot provideenough for our students.“-School Program Coordinator/Liaison