Portrait of a Community School: 

Innovative Partnerships for Student Success 
 
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 
Location: Courtyard by Marriott, Cromwell 
 
Coffee:  8:30 a.m. 
Program:  9:00 a.m. to Noon 
 
 
Guest Presenter:  Dr. Claire Crane, Principal of the Ford Elementary School in Lynn, Massachusetts, with 
staff and community partners from the Ford School 
 
Please join us for an interactive discussion with the leadership of a nationally recognized urban community school. 
Dr. Claire Crane and colleagues will share the practices and systems that the Ford School has designed to give each 
family  access  to  the  supports  they  need  to  improve  their  lives,  a  voice  in  the  leadership  of  the  school,  and  the 
motivation  to  continue  to  dream  of  better  opportunities  for  both  them  and  their  children.  These  connections 
translate into academic success. 
 
Under Dr. Crane's leadership, the Ford School, where 57 percent of the families speak limited English and 95 percent 
of  the  students  are  low  income,  has  made  tremendous  gains  in  student  achievement  by  building  strong  school‐
family‐community partnerships.  Using a community‐school model, The Ford School moved from its former position 
as  the  lowest‐performing  school  in  the  city  to  its  current  status  as  the  highest‐performing  among  Lynn's  large 
elementary schools.  
 
Registration Information  Register by April 20, 2010 
Up to 2 persons from your district may register. Please return application to CT PIRC, 25 Industrial Park Road, Middletown, CT  
06457‐1516.  Participants will be selected on a first‐come, first‐served basis with regional consideration.  Applicants will 
receive written confirmation regarding participation shortly after the registration closing date.  
APPLICATION FORM: Community School (Please print clearly.) Event Code: 10-47-024
Applicant #1
District/Region School/Program Work Phone ( )
Name SERC membership #
Home Address City/Zip Home Phone ( )
Position/Role Grade Level E-mail (Please print.)
Release time is approved for educators: Administrator’s Signature is required________________________________________________
If a special accommodation is needed for workshop participation, please specify:______________________________________________
Applicant #2
District/Region School/Program Work Phone ( )
Name SERC membership #
Home Address City/Zip Home Phone ( )
Position/Role Grade Level E-mail (Please print.)
Release time is approved for educators: Administrator’s Signature is required________________________________________________
If a special accommodation is needed for workshop participation, please specify:______________________________________________
For registration questions, contact:  Bianca Irizarry, Project Assistant, Phone: (860) 632‐1485, ext. 216: Fax: (860) 632‐8870; or                
E‐mail  irizarry@ctserc.org.