Capitol Region Education Council

52920902032000(Hartford, Conn.) The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is proud to announce the appointment of Desi Nesmith as its next Executive Director, effective February 1, 2026. Nesmith will succeed Dr. Greg Florio, who is retiring on January 31, 2026, after a decade of transformative leadership as CREC’s Executive Director. Dr. Florio began his tenure on January 1, 2016, and guided the organization through a period of significant growth and innovation.“On behalf of the CREC Council, I extend congratulations to Dr. Florio on his retirement as our Executive Director,” said Leonard Lockhart, Chair of the CREC Council, CREC Council Representative from Windsor, and President of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE). “Greg has provided transformational leadership and positioned CREC well in face of all that potentially could have inhibited the organization. I thank him for his service and wish him well with the next chapters on his journey. We welcome Mr. Nesmith as our next Executive Director. Desi comes to CREC with a wide range of experiences, skills, and leadership attributes that CREC requires to smoothly transition.” Nesmith joined CREC as Assistant Executive Director in April 2024. In this role, he has been a vital member of CREC’s Executive Leadership Team, contributing to the agency’s strategic vision and organizational growth. Nesmith will become the first Black Executive Director in the 60-year history of the organization. “[Nesmith] has served well as Assistant Executive Director and is prepared for this era in CREC's history. Both gentlemen always prioritize children and families' best interests through their support of teachers, administrators, staff, community, and education & legislative partners,” added Lockhart.Nesmith has spent his time as Assistant Executive Director immersing himself in CREC’s myriad programs, getting to know CREC staff, and formulating a vision for the organization’s future. “I am thrilled that the Council made this decision,” said Florio, expressing confidence in his successor. “CREC is a challenging and complex organization to lead. Desi has spent his time developing an understanding of CREC. He has developed a connection to our culture, the mission-driven focus and the core values that guide our work.”“CREC’s work is about people—students, families, staff, and partners—and the systems that support them,” said Nesmith. “I’m committed to listening carefully, acting thoughtfully, and moving forward together with purpose.”Prior to joining CREC, Nesmith served as Assistant Superintendent at Bloomfield Public Schools and as Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). During his time at CSDE, he had oversight of the Strategic Planning, Performance, Academic, and Turnaround offices and collaborated with the Learn from Home Task Force to bridge the digital divide by providing devices and connectivity to Connecticut families.In June 2019, Governor Ned Lamont appointed him Interim Commissioner of Education, where he led CSDE during a leadership transition. Previously, he served as CSDE’s Chief Turnaround Officer, overseeing the state’s Alliance District and Charter School programs to promote equity and excellence.Nesmith’s leadership career began in school buildings. He served as principal of Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield, where he earned national recognition with the Milken Educator Award for dramatically improving student outcomes. Earlier, he worked as a principal in Hartford and began his career as a fifth grade teacher at Mayberry Elementary School in East Hartford.A lifelong learner, Nesmith holds a B.A., M.A., and a Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut.The CREC community looks forward to a smooth leadership transition and anticipates continued progress under Nesmith’s leadership.###The Capitol Region Education Council was established in 1966. Working with and for its member districts, CREC has developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and adults in the region. CREC brings over five decades of experience in education, regional collaboration, and operations to provide innovative strategies and products that address the changing needs of school districts and their students, corporations, non-profits, and individual professions. CREC regularly serves 35 towns in Greater Hartford, offering more than 120 programs to more than 150,000 students annually. CREC manages more than 40 facilities throughout the area, including 16 interdistrict magnet schools and two magnet programs. More information about CREC and CREC’s award-winning schools is available at www.crec.org. ...

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(Hartford, Conn.) The Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (CT TRP) is pleased to announce a new articulation agreement with Quinnipiac University that creates a streamlined pathway for CT TRP graduates to earn a fully online Master of Science in Special Education.Under the agreement, Quinnipiac University will honor 12 graduate credits earned through CT TRP coursework. Program completers will complete the remaining 18 credits through Quinnipiac University to earn the master’s degree. The partnership is open to both Elementary Education and Special Education CT TRP completers, expanding access to advanced credentials in a high-need certification area.“This collaboration between Quinnipiac University’s School of Education and CT TRP reflects our shared commitment to equity in education—ensuring that the teaching workforce represents and understands the communities it serves,” said Dr. Anne Dichele, Dean of the Quinnipiac School of Education. “I believe this unique partnership provides an innovative model that shares the strengths of two programs of teacher professionalism, and in doing so shapes the future of education by empowering teachers who bring inclusive excellence and passion to their work.”For Elementary Education CT TRP graduates, the partnership also provides an optional pathway to earn a Special Education cross-endorsement. While the master’s degree itself does not confer cross-endorsement, Elementary TRP graduates may earn the Special Education endorsement by completing an additional 6-credit practicum, bringing the total to 24 credits. This practicum may be completed within educators’ current teaching roles serving inclusion students.“We value university partnerships that recognize the strength and relevance of TRP’s preparation model,” said Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims, Managing Director of Academic Programming and Legislative Affairs for CT TRP. “Our collaboration with Quinnipiac University expands graduate-level pathways for both elementary and comprehensive special education completers, while honoring the intellectual challenge of TRP’s coursework and the expertise developed through real-world teaching experience. This partnership reinforces our belief that educators’ lived experiences are not supplemental to academic learning—they are foundational to it.” The Connecticut Teacher Residency Program, managed by CREC in partnership with the RESC (Regional Educational Service Centers) Alliance, is focused on diversifying the educator workforce and addressing teacher shortages in high-need certification areas across the state. Creating accessible pathways to advanced degrees supports the recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of educators committed to serving Connecticut’s diverse student population.Since its inception in 2019, CT TRP has offered an innovative residency model that prepares non-certified candidates with bachelor’s degrees to earn state teaching certification while working full time in classrooms. The program began as an elementary certification pilot in CREC Magnet Schools and has since expanded statewide. In recent years, CT TRP added Special Education certification and received state approval for a Middle School Mathematics certification pathway. More information is available at www.ct-trp.org###The Capitol Region Education Council was established in 1966. Working with and for its member districts, CREC has developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and adults in the region. CREC brings over five decades of experience in education, regional collaboration, and operations to provide innovative strategies and products that address the changing needs of school districts and their students, corporations, non-profits, and individual professions. CREC regularly serves 35 towns in Greater Hartford, offering more than 120 programs to more than 150,000 students annually. CREC manages more than 40 facilities throughout the area, including 16 interdistrict magnet schools and two magnet programs. More information about CREC and CREC’s award-winning schools is available at www.crec.org. About Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 9,700 students in more than 100 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing and Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and the College of Arts & Sciences. Quinnipiac is ranked 51st in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” and is also recognized by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review’s “The Best 391 Colleges.” The university is expanding innovative programs for both traditional and adult learners and developing dynamic corporate partnerships. Quinnipiac recently completed a significant capital expansion on its main campus, including a state-of-the-art new School of Business and an interdisciplinary science and innovation hub. For more information, please visit qu.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook and Instagram and follow Quinnipiac on X @QuinnipiacU. ...

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(Hartford, Conn.) The Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (CT TRP) is thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with the University of Hartford that allows graduates of the program to enter a Master of Education program at the University while transferring in up to 15 credits from their residency coursework."The University of Hartford is excited to launch an innovative graduate degree pathway for completers of the CT Teacher Residency Program,” said Dr. Cesarina Thompson, Dean of the University of Hartford College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. “We are committed to addressing the severe teacher shortage across our State and to collaborating with our partners to enhance the diversity of our teacher workforce and equip teachers with the advanced knowledge and skills they need to provide equitable and inclusive learning opportunities that will benefit all learners.”The university program offers those who complete the CT TRP a M.Ed. degree focusing on Elementary Education. Applicants who meet the criteria for the program can transfer in the coursework from five CT TRP courses towards required credits for the M.Ed. The transferrable classes include Applied Developmental & Learning Theories, Fundamentals of Reading Instruction, Foundations & Strategic Actions of Literacy Learning, PreK-Grade 6 Science and Technology in the Classroom, and Elementary Methods: Social Studies/Science/Art. "We are thrilled to continue dismantling barriers and providing opportunities for TRP's diverse candidates and Program completers via this partnership and degree pathway with the University of Hartford,” said Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims, Managing Director of Academic Programming for CT TRP. “This collaboration marks a significant stride towards empowering diverse educators to ascend academically and professionally. By bridging our program's challenging, innovative coursework with the University's esteemed academic resources, we are not only addressing the critical teacher shortage but also cultivating teachers equipped with the advanced skills necessary to advance TRP's vision 'to create opportunities for all children and transform schools to be diverse and inclusive environments'."The Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (CT TRP), managed by CREC in partnership with the RESC (Regional Educational Service Centers) Alliance, is focused on diversifying the teaching staff across the state of Connecticut. Adding a pathway to obtaining a master’s degree—with nearly half of the credits completed—is a significant step towards the goal of attracting and retaining these diverse teachers in the state. Advanced degrees such as a master’s, or the equivalent coursework, are one of the best ways for educators to gain valuable skills, increase teacher pay, and work towards leadership roles.CT TRP, since its inception in 2019, offers a unique approach to training non-certified candidates with a bachelor’s degree by partnering with school districts to provide a residency model leading to State Teaching Certification. Residents and graduates give students windows and mirrors into their lived experiences and possibilities for their future. The program began in 2019 as a pilot in CREC’s Magnet Schools for elementary certification and is now offered in districts across Connecticut. In 2023 CT TRP added a pilot for Special Education certification, and in March 2024 received approval for a new Middle School Mathematics Certification program. CT TRP’s website is www.ct-trp.org ###The Capitol Region Education Council was established in 1966. Working with and for its member districts, CREC has developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and adults in the region. CREC brings over five decades of experience in education, regional collaboration, and operations to provide innovative strategies and products that address the changing needs of school districts and their students, corporations, non-profits, and individual professions. CREC regularly serves 35 towns in Greater Hartford, offering more than 120 programs to more than 150,000 students annually. CREC manages more than 40 facilities throughout the area, including 16 interdistrict magnet schools and two magnet programs. More information about CREC and CREC’s award-winning schools is available at www.crec.org. ...

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53416204381500(Hartford, Conn.) The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is excited to announce the hiring of Desi Nesmith as our Assistant Executive Director. Nesmith’s first day with CREC was Tuesday, April 30, filling a position on CREC’s Executive Leadership Team that has been unappointed for several years.Nesmith comes to CREC from the Bloomfield Public Schools where he held the title of Assistant Superintendent. Before his role in Bloomfield, he was the Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), overseeing the Strategic Planning, Performance, Academic, and Turnaround offices. Nesmith collaborated closely with the Learn from Home Task Force during his tenure to bridge the digital divide by providing devices and connectivity to Connecticut families. He also served as the agency's Federal Liaison to the U.S. Department of Education, shaping statewide federal funding priorities, and he served on the General Assembly’s Juvenile Justice Policy Oversight Committee.In June 2019, Governor Ned Lamont appointed Nesmith as Interim Commissioner of Education, overseeing CSDE during the transition to a permanent Education Commissioner. Earlier, he served as Chief Turnaround Officer, managing the state's Alliance District and Charter School programs, promoting equity and excellence across Connecticut's schools. Nesmith’s educational leadership experience extends back to his role as principal of Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield, where he significantly improved student achievement, receiving national recognition with the Milken Educator's Award in 2014.“I am honored and excited join the CREC team as an Assistant Executive Director,” said Nesmith. “I look forward to working with colleagues here at CREC as well as the other Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs) and our member districts.”The role of Assistant Executive Director at CREC develops and implements the overall vision, mission, and goals of the agency and supervises, provides guidance, and evaluates programs and leadership across the agency. He will also interface directly with key stakeholders across the state involved with regional education, budgets, and operational development like the RESC Alliance, State Department of Education, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, and the Connecticut General Assembly.“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Desi Nesmith to the position of Assistant Executive Director,” said Greg Florio, CREC Executive Director. “Desi's extensive background in educational leadership, aligns perfectly with CREC's core values and strategic goals. His proven commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and equity will undoubtedly propel our mission forward."The CREC community eagerly looks forward to embracing Nesmith in his new position, expecting a period of continuous development and success under his guidance. ###The Capitol Region Education Council was established in 1966. Working with and for its member districts, CREC has developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and adults in the region. CREC brings over five decades of experience in education, regional collaboration, and operations to provide innovative strategies and products that address the changing needs of school districts and their students, corporations, non-profits, and individual professions. CREC regularly serves 35 towns in Greater Hartford, offering more than 120 programs to more than 150,000 students annually. CREC manages more than 40 facilities throughout the area, including 16 interdistrict magnet schools and two magnet programs. More information about CREC and CREC’s award-winning schools is available at www.crec.org. ...

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