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In the News
January 18, 2012
New Haven Register
Connecticut lost ground in the annual ranking of state laws that govern charter schools, mainly because other states such as Maine and New Mexico passed more progressive reforms in the past year.
January 15, 2012
Hartford Courant
When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy put education reform on the front burner for 2012, he caught a wave of public sentiment that has been building for a couple of years in every corner of the state. Everybody from superintendents and the state's largest teachers union to business leaders, advocacy groups, parents and political leaders wants to improve the state's public schools.
January 15, 2012
CT Now / Fox 61
"Major education reforms for Connecticut are planned for this year, and I'm here with Michael Sharpe, Director of Jamoke Academy, one of the fastest rising charter schools in Connecticut, in Hartford, [and] Patrick Riccards, the new CEO/President of ConnCAN..."
January 8, 2012
CT News Junkie
By Patrick Riccards, CEO, ConnCAN
Last week, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made a passionate case for why we all must commit to education reform in 2012. Speaking at his education reform summit, the governor made clear that school improvement is a team effort, requiring the involvement of all stakeholders.
January 4, 2012
Connecticut Post
About the only top slot the constitution state still clings to is "largest achievement gap in the nation."
So educational reform advocates say much is riding on Malloy's pledge that 2012 will be the year of education reform.
Malloy is hosting an Education Workshop Thursday at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. Many invited are convinced the policies that begin to take shape there may lead to legislation that can transform the state's failing schools and ultimately assist in growing the economy.
Social Networking
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Now it’s getting interesting: @GovMalloyOffice pitches 3 parts of his #ctedreform plan in one week t.co/67yy8BlZ (w/ sweet tweets!)
Talk to us on 
A team of education reformers.
Patrick Riccards
Chief Executive Officer
Patrick Riccards comes to ConnCAN with over 20 years of communications political strategy experience under his belt. He is a tireless advocate for kids, and has transformed the work of countless organizations and campaigns over the past 20 years. From the National Reading Panel, to New Leaders for New Schools, to the National Governors Association, to the American Federation of Teachers, Patrick has been integral in building public support for issue-based organizations, especially those working to improve public schools across the country. Most recently based in Virginia as CEO at Exemplar Strategic Communications, Patrick has provided expert consulting on leadership, policy, research, and communications for a range of organizations focused on public education and other issues.
Patrick is already a well-known personality in the education blogosphere thanks to his blog, Eduflack. In 2009, he was a recipient of PRWeek Magazine’s prestigious “40 Under 40” award for top communications professionals in the country, and in September 2011, Bulldog Reporter named him the Non-Profit Communications Professional of the Year. Patrick has served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) Initiative, focusing on expanding STEM opportunities for all students, particularly those from historically disadvantaged populations. He has also served as Chairman of the Falls Church (VA) School Board.
He is also a devoted husband and father of two.
(203) 772-4017 x15
Anna Marcucio
Chief Operating Officer
Anna Varghese Marcucio comes to ConnCAN after spending the past ten years in Washington, DC working on national education policy. Most recently, Anna served as Legislative Director for the American Federation for Children (AFC), an organization that worked with state partners to enact, strengthen and defend school choice programs for low-income children. Prior to joining AFC, Anna was the Vice President for External Affairs at the Center for Education Reform. Anna's first experience working in education reform was as a member of the Eastern Recruitment team at the national office of Teach for America. Anna grew up in Connecticut and received a bachelor of arts degree in political science at the University of Connecticut and received a master's degree in public policy from American University in Washington, DC.
203.772.4017 ext. 14
WHY I'M HERE I'm here because the policy initiatives developed and driven by ConnCAN will have a direct impact on children who right now are not being served well. Every parent wants their child to succeed; I'm here to be part of a team that provides the means and the access for every child to graduate from high school ready for college and beyond.
Lisa Whitfield
Executive Officer for Human Resources and Operations
Lisa Whitfield is one of ConnCAN's longest-serving education reformers, joining the organization in its infacy in 2005. Before coming to ConnCAN, Lisa worked at Stone Academy/Goodwin College as the Director and Educator of the Business Management program. In addition to her role here, she serves on the advisory board of the Metropolitan Business Academy, the SHRM Connecticut State Council for Workforce Readiness and Development and is the President of the PTO at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut. She has consulted on the topics of Leadership, Business Management, and Professional Development. She is a graduate of the University of New Haven and is seeking her MBA in Business Policy & Strategic Leadership.
Lisa.Whitfield@conncan.org
203.772.4017 ext. 18
WHY I'M HERE Our nation's future relies wholly on every child having access to great public schools and that is why I work at ConnCAN. Everyday, my passion is satisfied and fulfilled because I am part of an organization that champions and advocates for education reform.
Jennifer Alexander
Vice President of Research & Partnerships
Before joining ConnCAN, Jennifer worked in Washington, D.C. as a consultant whose clients included the national Center on Innovation and Improvement. She also served as Senior Research Analyst at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), where she advised studies of Title I implementation and managed national policy centers on comprehensive school reform and supplemental educational services. Jennifer also worked on the Redesigning Low-Performing Schools Initiative at the American Federation of Teachers. She has written numerous research, policy and technical assistance tools. A Connecticut native, certified teacher and mother of two young children, Jennifer is a graduate of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and received a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University.
jennifer.alexander@conncan.org
203.772.4017 ext. 13
WHY I'M HERE Right now, too many children are sitting in classrooms and schools in Connecticut and nationwide that will ultimately fail them. Research and data might seem boring to some, but I think they are key to driving real change that will improve our schools, transform kids’ lives, and make our world safer, healthier, and more prosperous.
Jessica Stram
Director of Government Affairs
Jessica began her journey with ConnCAN as a Fellow, back in September 2007. She worked her way up through the ranks to the position of Government Affairs Director, after contributing to two successful legislative campaigns. Prior to ConnCAN, Jessica served as a public policy intern for GLSEN in Washington, DC. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, and her master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Southern Connecticut State University. She is a lifelong resident of Wallingford, CT.
Jessica.Stram@conncan.org
203.772.4017 ext. 23
WHY I'M HERE Growing up in Connecticut, I always assumed all children had the same educational experiences as I, never realizing that our state has been failing generations of students in poor or urban areas. Now is the time to right this wrong, and work for real, systemic education reform so all children can start their lives on equal ground.
Jessica Bloom
Communications & Mobilization Manager
Before joining ConnCAN, Jessica was the knowledge manager at Root Cause, a nonprofit research and consulting firm in Cambridge, MA. In this role, she shared lessons learned from partnerships with nonprofits, philanthropists, and government leaders with the broader community. Prior to serving as knowledge manager, she was a research associate in Root Cause’s consulting practice, which works with nonprofits around the country to develop business plans to increase their social impact. Jessica is a graduate of Harvard University.
203.772.4017 ext. 19
WHY I'M HERE I benefited tremendously from schools that prioritized and delivered on excellence to their students. When schools are able to prepare students for success, incredible things can happen. I’m at ConnCAN to help make sure that all students have access to great schools and the education they deserve.
Rebecca Greenberg-Ellis
Director of Development
Before joining ConnCAN, Rebecca worked as a furniture buyer for Pottery Barn. In this role, she served on the Sustainable Development Leadership Team and introduced socially and environmentally responsible product offerings. Previously, she was part of an international franchise start-up within Gap Inc. In addition to her work in corporate retail, Rebecca has a background in public education, having worked in K-3rd grade classrooms in Santa Barbara, CA. Rebecca has also consulted for fair trade and economic development organizations. She is a regular contributor to several green business websites and blogs. Rebecca holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, CA.
rebecca.greenberg-ellis@conncan.org
203.772.4017 ext. 12
WHY I'M HERE I came to work at ConnCAN because I truly believe that education reform is a crucial component of poverty alleviation. Having worked in struggling public elementary schools, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that state policy has on principals, teachers, families, students and communities. The children of Connecticut deserve a promising future.
Jamliah Prince-Stewart
Advocacy Associate
Before joining ConnCAN, Jamilah was the Placement Manager for Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation, an academic-enrichment program that aimed to increase the college attendance rate in the city of Hartford by placing students at independent secondary schools. Prior to that, Jamilah interned at the Dixwell-Yale Community Learning Center and volunteered for Breakthrough New Haven. Jamilah is a native of New Haven, CT and a graduate of Yale University.
203.772.4017 ext. 21
WHY I'M HERE As a native of New Haven, CT, I’ve sat at the crossroads of some of the nation’s best and worst educational institutions. I witnessed the potential of countless family members and friends fall victim to the pitfalls of a broken system. Education reform is the issue of our time and I’m thrilled to be a part of a team willing to tackle it head on.
WHY I'M HERE “As the son of life-long educators, I was raised to believe there was nothing more powerful than a strong education. Our public schools can serve as the great equalizer, offering a gateway to opportunity and success for all students. The work of ConnCAN is so important because it fights to ensure that every child in Connecticut has access to a great public school education and that gateway of opportunity.
The success of our community, our state, and our nation depends on a strong public education for all students. That is ConnCAN’s mission, and I will fight each and every day for my children and for all kids across Connecticut.”