A group of Newtown school district representatives shared a presentation on climate and culture at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education/Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CABE/CAPSS) Convention at the Mystic Marriott in Groton on Friday, November 18.The Newtown Bee reported at the time.Dr Erardi was named as the CABE/CAPSS Superintendent of the Year for 2017 at the convention.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, Newtown Federation of Teachers (NFT) President Tom Kuroski, Board of Education member John Vouros, NFT High School Vice President Tom Pescarmona, NFT Middle School Vice President Mary Connoly, NFT Reed Vice President Jessica Fonovic, and NFT Elementary School Vice President John Sullivan shared a presentation on climate and culture titled "We Are All in This Together."

From her perspective in the audience, Ms Ku said the presentation highlighted how far the district has come since 2014.

Roughly one month after he started in the district, Dr Erardi arranged for a presentation by the NFT at a Board of Education meeting in May 2014. At the meeting, Mr Kuroski and other district educators presented a "State of the Union" report, which aired concerns and frustrations around contractual obligations, lost professional development time, a "lack of good faith dialogue" when negotiating with the board in 2012, morale in the district, and the impact of the events of 12/14.

At the time, Dr Erardi said the presentation was a beginning. Roughly one week later he announced his intentions to form a committee "to work in partnership in a positive manner with the teachers' association and the Board of Education," as

"Looking back on it, it is so powerful he invited the union to come in and really dress us down as a board and tell us what the issues were," said Ms Ku, adding that she appreciates Dr Erardi's ability to invite his harshest critics to participate in conversations and committees. The Climate and Culture Committee is one of the things that has helped the district be a better place for everyone, Ms Ku said.

Former Board of Education member Laura Roche, who did not attend the presentation but who, along with Mr Vouros and Mr Kuroski, was one of the original members of the Climate and Culture Committee, said on Tuesday, November 22, that when Dr Erardi arrived in the district there was an atmosphere of past frustrations and people were still suffering from the impact of 12/14. When the committee was formed, she said, "It was an incredible experience" to have the right people in the room to listen and talk about the important work needed for the children in the district.

Even before Dr Erardi came to the district, Mr Kuroski said a meeting was held for the then-incoming superintendent to hear from the NFT.

The "We Are All in This Together" presentation was originally put together and shared at the American Federation of Teachers TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference in the summer of 2015, and Mr Kuroski said some updates were added for the latest version. Since the 2015 presentation, the NFT and district have negotiated a new four-year contract, the Climate and Culture Committee helped oversee the Sandy Hook Elementary School transition to its new building, and monthly teacher forums allow educators to share ways to solve problems, he said.

Mr Alexander said he is supportive of the Climate and Culture Committee work and he is pleased so many from around the state and country are interested in the results Newtown has achieved.

Dr Erardi said he felt the presentation had a "very appreciative audience." The presentation was designed to share what the district believes, he said, is a way to create a better climate and culture for teachers.

Video from the original May 2014 "State of the Union" presentation and a PowerPoint presentation offered an explanation of the level of work. From the comments and questions following the presentation, Dr Erardi said he believes it was held in high regard with the audience members.

Board member Rebekah Harriman-Stites, as a Climate and Culture Committee member, helped answer questions after the presentation.

"I thought it went great," said Ms Harriman-Stites, adding that she, too, heard feedback from members of other districts who said they had similar rifts between administration and teachers.

Mr Kuroski said the audience members were stunned "that our union had such a collegial relationship with our board and superintendent."

As soon as the NFT and district administrators understood in 2014 that everyone was there to improve teaching and learning, a common bond was formed, Mr Kuroski said, and since then he has noted a positive difference in negotiations.

Sharing the experience and the presentation with the audience was positive for Mr Kuroski.

"The peoples' reaction was equally positive, and I think it made us feel like we were sharing something that was going to help others outside of the district," he said.

Mr Vouros in his closing remarks for the presentation, according to his notes, said, "It's a never-ending story told monthly with leadership remaining steadfast to orchestrate healthy solutions which ultimately benefit the children. The decision of how you achieve and sustain a positive culture and climate is now up to you."

Mr Kuroski also said from knowing Dr Erardi and his work with the Climate and Culture Committee, that Dr Erardi earning the Superintendent of the Year for 2017 from CABE/CAPPS was "perfect." Finding a superintendent in the state or the country "who has taken on more than this man has," Mr Kuroski said, would be difficult.