• CT Core Advocates

    Connecticut Core Advocates hope to support teachers in our state in engaging with collegial professional development opportunities that increase their access to and use of high-quality resources and materials to improve student learning outcomes.Connect with the CT network today by completing the Core Advocate questionnaire. 

    Connect with the CT network today by completing the Core Advocate survey. 

  • Our Mission

    Core Advocates know that teachers are vital to creating sustainable change and evolving school communities that are working to support 21st-century learners.  We know that meaningful professional learning is shared among colleagues and cannot be replicated through a top down model. We understand that the shifts in ELA/literacy include regular practice with complex texts, accompanied by practice in reading, writing, and speaking and that the math shifts are focus, coherence, and rigor.  We understand that these shifts are essential to meaningful instructional change and Connecticut Core Advocates:

    • support educators with meaningful professional development opportunities to reflect on and develop their teaching practices in collaboration with colleagues.
    • provide educators with high-quality tools and resources that can be used to improve learning outcomes for all students.
    • offer educators the opportunity to become recognized teacher-leaders, through sponsoring opportunities to lead and share effective practices with other teachers and stakeholders within our state.
  • Our Work

    Across Connecticut state in ELA/literacy, students' lack of regular exposure to and explicit instruction in using complex texts limits their growth in vocabulary acquisition and content knowledge. In mathematics, students have gaps in their mathematical understanding, impeding their access grade-level content.

    CT Core Advocates are actively recruiting teacher-leaders from across the state to join us working on ELA/literacy and mathematics campaigns around this state focused work.

     ELA/literacy Campaign

    • Supporting teachers in providing students with regular, meaningful practice with complex text

    Math Campaign

    • Support teachers understanding of the connections within and between math concepts to meet the instructional needs of all students

     We are seeking teachers who are interested in professional learning around helping students successfully accessing complex texts and/or address mathematical learning gaps that prevent students from accessing appropriate grade level content.  We hope to assist teachers in enriching their own teaching practices while encouraging them to lead efforts to shift instructional practices within their own local school communities to improve learning outcomes for all students.

    This year, the CT Core Team plans to work in conjunction with other state networks and Connecticut education organizations to provide networking and learning opportunities for CT Math and ELA teachers.  If you are interested in joining the CT Core Advocates for a meeting, be sure to fill out the Core Advocates Survey, and email ctcoreadvocates@studentsachieve.net to learn more.

  • Who We Are

    Connecticut Core Advocate Captain - Kevin Liner  

    Kevin Liner is currently a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Connecticut with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Mathematics.  Kevin began his career at Capitol Region Education Council, first at the Metropolitan Learning Center as a high school math teacher and then as the district's Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Specialist.  More recently, Kevin has served as a Visiting Professor at Sacred Heart University and Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education teaching various courses in education.  Now, in pursuit of his doctorate, Kevin supervises student teachers while continuing curriculum work with various districts around the state.  Kevin has presented his work at many conferences including NCSM, NCTM, Students Achievement Partners Core Advocates Conference, and the ATOMIC Conference.  Kevin’s passion for teaching and learning has even brought him as far as Rwanda, where he currently works with the Rwanda Teacher Education Program via the University of Hartford to help design and implement a national teacher training program.  In all he does, Kevin is guided by a personal passion for mathematics and a boundless desire to help students and teachers succeed.

    ELA/literacy Content Lead - Jaimie Fisco

    Math Content Lead - Amanda Peterson

  • Stay Informed

    Follow Connecticut Core Advocates on Twitter: @ctcoreadvocates

    For more information, please contact us at:ctcoreadvocates@studentsachieve.net