In celebration of Women’s History Month, RISE’s Postsecondary Success team is excited to spotlight some of the amazing women leaders who have been instrumental in driving the postsecondary efforts within their respective school communities.
At Hartford Public High School, Andrea Crittenden, the College and Career Coordinator, transforms how students pursue trade and technical education. Recognizing that students on the trade/technical school path have unique needs, she provides more tailored guidance and resources. Andrea organized a trade fair, bringing trade schools directly to campus. These institutions not only showcased their programs but also shared financial aid opportunities and offered on-site visits. Through Andrea’s leadership, the HPHS team achieved an astounding 96 percent application completion rate for students pursuing trade/technical school plans, while also reaching an impressive 93 percent completion rate for all higher education-bound students.
Candice Wade, School Counselor at Middletown High School, wears many hats—but all of them serve one mission: guiding students toward bright futures. Whether she’s coaching students through the FAFSA application or tackling summer melt to ensure graduates stay on track, Candice is a driving force in postsecondary success. In a recent postsecondary collaborative, Candice led a demonstration on how the RISE Data Hub can transform counseling practices, making the process more efficient and impactful. Candice and her team achieved a 61 percent FAFSA completion rate among higher education-bound students.
At Manchester High School, Director of Counseling Dr. Kaitlin Levesque is on a mission to ensure no student falls through the cracks. She believes that behind every data point is a student with a story—and she’s determined to make sure each one is heard. Leading her Improvement Team meetings with a data-driven approach, Dr. Levesque and her team dive into the Data Hub, analyzing student trends holistically to identify priority subgroups that need extra support. But the real magic happens when the team shifts from numbers to names. After large-group discussions, they break into smaller teams to craft personalized strategies that meet each student’s unique needs. Through collaboration, insight, and a commitment to student success, Kaitlin and her team ensure that every student—no matter their challenges—has a clear path forward.
At Naugatuck High School, Associate Principal Eileen Mezzo leads her Improvement Team with passion and purpose. She ensures that every student has the support they need to take their next step with confidence. But her impact doesn’t stop there. Eileen will take the stage at the RISE Network Convening on April 1, leading the session, “Every Voice Valued, Amplifying Student Voices: Building Belonging and Engagement Through Collaboration.”
Currently, as a network, we have successfully supported 82 percent of our higher education-bound students in application completion and 54 percent in FAFSA completion. We are proud to recognize the dedication, commitment, and hard work of women in postsecondary education, whose collective efforts are making a difference across the RISE Network!