Westminster Faculty Member Receives First CAIS Award

The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) has presented its first CAIS Award to Westminster faculty member Todd Eckerson. The award, established by the CAIS Board of Directors in 2005, is presented to a person, group of people or institution that has provided an inspiring example of leadership and commitment to the improvement of education for children in Connecticut.

In addition to being a moral philosophy teacher and a lacrosse coach at Westminster, Eckerson is Executive Director of the Crossroads Cooperative Learning Program (CCLP). For the past five years, the Crossroads program has been a part of Westminster’s community service outreach to Harford Public High School. CCLP, an independent non-profit organization, seeks to track and advocate for Hartford Public High School students as they navigate their way toward graduation and beyond. CCLP’s mission is effectively summarized in its motto: “Plan to graduate. Graduate with a plan.”

Eckerson spends time each week at Hartford Public High School meeting with and advocating for students in the program. In his visits, Eckerson is joined oftentimes by members of the Westminster School community.  CCLP also runs a summer enrichment session in August that provides instruction for students in writing, philosophy, English, history, mathematics and science.

Nominating forms for the CAIS award were sent to all 92 CAIS heads of schools in Connecticut.  Candidates considered for the award included commendable faculty, administrators, parents and Trustees.  The final selection was made in a unanimous vote of the CAIS Board of Directors.

In his letter nominating Eckerson for the award, Westminster Headmaster Graham Cole said of the CCLP program, “For most of these students, graduation from high school was not an inevitable event.  Rather, it was a milestone, accomplished through grit and grace.  In some cases, graduation represents a truly remarkable undertaking.  For all the students of Crossroads, the door of opportunity has been opened through education.  These accomplishments are encouraged and fostered through Todd Eckerson and his exemplary service to the children of Connecticut.”

When presenting the award to Eckerson, Ann Pollina, President of the CAIS Board of Directors and Head of Westover School said, “On behalf of the 23 members of the CAIS Board and the 92 independent schools we represent, I thank you for your work and for your example – and also for enabling us to launch this award with such a noble and eminently worthy recipient.”  
The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, founded in 1950, is a voluntary association of 92 non-profit independent schools serving 30,000 students from all Connecticut towns and many other states and countries.