Issues & Solutions
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Make An Impact
Shannon joined ReadyCT in 2018, leading the organization to become a vital conduit for collaborative innovation among education, business, and civic communities, and shaping policies and practices that equitably serve all children in Connecticut. Shannon has worked in PK-12 and higher education for just over two decades.
As a graduate of Connecticut’s public school system, Shannon is committed to narrowing the state’s achievement gap and raising academic outcomes for all students through policy advocacy, public awareness, and capacity building. She also aims to better align our educational system with our workforce needs in order to best prepare students for the world of work.
Before stepping into her role at ReadyCT, 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 the Yale School of Management, 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.
“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 ReadyCT 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. As such, we can have great impact and better outcomes for students. A quality education for each and every child is the foundation for a thriving economic and civic future. ReadyCT will be persistent in this fight.”