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Marian joined CCER in 2014, partnering with public education leaders to implement transformational initiatives in their districts. Marian has had a 26-year career in public education as a teacher, principal, and as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction in Rocky Hill Public Schools. The majority of her career has been in urban education settings - first as a student teacher in University of Connecticut’s Urban Education Program, then as a teacher and principal in Meriden Public Schools. Marian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut, a Master’s degree in Reading from Central Connecticut State University, and a Sixth Year degree from Southern Connecticut State University. She has also completed a PIMMS fellowship at Wesleyan University in the ’95 Integrated Math and Science program. Marian was awarded Meriden’s Teacher of the Year award in 2000 and received a Women in Leadership award in 2006 from the Women and Families Center in Meriden.

A few words from Marian:

“As the former principal of an elementary school with a diverse student population, I learned firsthand about the different levels of readiness that kindergartners show when they first start school. Half of my students came from impoverished backgrounds - encountering English as a second language, and without the opportunity to attend preschool. The other half of my students entered school with all the benefits of a more affluent start - which included access to preschool, homes filled with books and technology, and (consequently) a richer vocabulary and literacy background than their less affluent peers. My first challenge as an administrator was to provide an enriching experience for all students in the school, while simultaneously addressing the gap that already existed at age 5. Using a well-developed curriculum with the appropriate resources, all of our kindergarten teachers worked diligently to achieve that goal. Our success did not come immediately or easily. We worked together to share best practices, analyze student data, and provide supplemental instruction. As a result, we narrowed that gap for many children! I believe that every child - regardless of his/her race, ethnicity, or economic background - deserves the right to the highest quality education. Education should be differentiated to meet the needs of each student and dedicated to providing every child with the opportunity for a successful future.”

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Shannon joined CCER in 2018, leading the organization to become a vital conduit for collaborative innovation among civic and business communities, and shaping policies and practices that equitably serve all children in Connecticut. Shannon has worked in PK-12 and higher education for just under two decades. As a native of Connecticut, she is committed to narrowing the state’s achievement gap and raising academic outcomes for all students through policy advocacy, public awareness, and capacity building. Before stepping into her role at CCER, Shannon was Director of Talent and Operations for the CT RISE Network, responsible for establishing, advancing, and monitoring organizational goals related to student on-track achievement and college and career readiness. Prior to RISE, Shannon was Division Director for the Bureau of Educator Effectiveness at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). During her five years with the CSDE, Shannon provided leadership and support to districts and schools to expand talent management systems and strategic planning efforts. Her team was responsible for recruitment and retention of educators to the teaching profession, program approval for educator preparation programs, implementation of the state’s teacher induction program (TEAM) and educator evaluation and professional learning system, as well as various leadership development initiatives. Shannon was a Partner and Director of Site Launch with The New Teacher Project (TNTP) and spent seven years working in higher education in such roles as Student Services and Outreach Manager for study abroad programming at Stanford University, Associate Director of Admissions at Stanford Law School, and Associate Director of Development for the Yale Schools of Art and Architecture. Shannon holds an MBA with a focus on nonprofit and public sector management from Yale University, an M.A. in art history from Stanford University, and a B.A. in art history and Spanish literature from Dartmouth College. She resides in West Hartford, CT, with her husband and two daughters.

A few words from Shannon:

“I have a deep appreciation for the complexity of our educational system. While the system is comprised of many dedicated adults who want the best for students, it is challenged by misaligned policies and practices that stand in the way of ensuring equity for all. My goal at CCER is to identify opportunities for high-impact, scale-worthy, and collaborative innovation through both policy and practice. I aim to make connections between various efforts taking place across the state, in service of better alignment and coherence among initiatives. I eagerly anticipate opportunities that may come with changes in state-level administration in the year ahead. While many are focused on addressing our current budgetary challenges, I will strive to ensure that education remains at the center of the conversation - viewed as essential in identifying solutions. A quality education for each and every child is the foundation for a thriving economic and civic future. CCER will be persistent in this fight.”