Alumni
About the Scholars' Alumni Association
Through the generous efforts of scholar alumni, the Scholars' Alumni Association (SAA) is committed to maintaining the vitality, the connectivity, and the inclusivity of the Goodwin University Magnet School System (GUMSS) community well beyond a scholar's last day of school and into their academic and professional careers. Once a part of GUMSS, always a part of GUMSS!
The SAA is not only a way to connect with fellow scholar alumni, but it is also a group dedicated to supporting the current students of GUMSS and the broader East Hartford community. Alumni in the SAA engage in various activities throughout the year, including:
- Mentoring current GUMSS scholars
- Taking part in volunteer opportunities
- Participating in networking activities, including the development of a GUMSS Scholars’ Alumni & Family Business Directory
- Attending alumni social events
- Contributing to and attending personal and professional development sessions
- Engaging in alumni community conversations
- Sharing inspirational life stories through interviews and video vignettes posted on GUMSS social media and featured in our alumni newsletter
Meet Your Alumni Specialist, Elizabeth Horton Sheff
On August 22, 2023, Elizabeth Horton Sheff joined GUMSS as the Alumni Specialist, responsible for nurturing and broadening the district’s relationships with their alumni. Horton Sheff is known throughout the state as the voice behind the Sheff v. O’Neill landmark case, which ensured that students like her son, Milo, have equal access to educational opportunities.
“I have long wondered about the life outcomes of those students who attended a school in the Sheff region,” said Horton Sheff. “While I am rich in anecdotal evidence of the good accomplished, working with GUMSS will afford me the opportunity to transform that which I have heard into realities that I can see.”
“With Horton Sheff joining our community, scholars and families will have an opportunity to engage with the person who championed quality integrated education that resulted in the creation of our magnet school system. It is not often that individuals have an opportunity to work with a nationally recognized education and community leader. We look forward to Horton Sheff capturing and sharing the stories of our alumni,” said Superintendent, Dr. Salvatore Menzo.
Horton Sheff comes to GUMSS with an extensive background in education and community relations. Most recently, Horton Sheff was the director for Community Renewal Team, Inc. in Hartford and previously was an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Manchester Community College and Goodwin University. She has also served as a councilperson for the Hartford Court of Common Council and served as Minister for Just Peace Ministries for the United Church of Christ in Hartford, CT.
“There is one thing, for certain, to which I can witness: Living one’s life answering the Call for social and racial justice will lead you to many places,” said Horton Sheff. “My dedication to such a pursuit has now brought me to GUMSS. I am grateful to GUMSS for this opportunity."
“There is one thing, for certain, to which I can witness: Living one’s life answering the Call for social and racial justice will lead you to many places,” said Horton Sheff. “My dedication to such a pursuit has now brought me to GUMSS. I am grateful to GUMSS for this opportunity."
Horton Sheff holds a Bachelors of Science from Charter Oak State College and a Masters of Education, concentration in educational technology, from the University of Hartford. She is the recipient of a Doctorate of Humane Letters, also from the University of Hartford.
1989: Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn.1, 678 A.2d 1267
On April 27, 1989, eighteen children, acting through their parents, filed a civil action in the Hartford Superior Court alleging that their fundamental right to education was being denied. Their claim, based on the State of Connecticut Constitution, Article Eight, Sec. 1, called to attention the educational disparities of children who attended the Hartford Public Schools district as juxtaposed to children who attended schools in affluent school districts surrounding the city of Hartford. The named plaintiff in this case was Milo Sheff, the son of Elizabeth Horton Sheff; several state officials of Connecticut, including the then the state governor, William A. O’Neill, were listed as defendants.
In April 1995, Superior Court Judge Harry Hammer ruled in favor of the defense, rejecting the claim that the state had an affirmative duty to correct educational inequities. The case advanced to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1996.
In July 1996, in a 4-3 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sheff plaintiffs. The ruling concluded that the state was constitutionally obligated to provide children with equal educational opportunities. The Court stated that a student’s access to public education should not be impaired by their racial and ethnic isolation. It also ruled that school districting, based upon town and city boundary lines, was unconstitutional because it largely contributed to racial, ethnic and socio-economic isolation of Hartford school children.
Since its filing in 1989, four (4) stipulated agreements have been signed between the Sheff plaintiffs and the State of Connecticut. The last agreement, signed in January 2020, outlined four categories to expand and sustain educational choice for students in the Greater Hartford region, as noted in the text box below. While the 2020 settlement technically ended court oversight of the Sheff case, this agreement contains a permanent injunction clause. Should the state of Connecticut fail to accomplish the goals outlined in the 2020 settlement, this permanent injunction clause will allow the Sheff plaintiffs to re-open the case and return to court. The four major areas of the 2020 agreement are as follows:
Significant Expansion of the Sheff Voluntary Interdistrict Programs
The expansion includes 1,052 new Magnet seats, 600 of which are for Hartford residents, $1,100,000 to develop of new Magnet school themes, $190,000 to support student achievement, $300,000 to support suburban districts that increase the number of Open Choice seats for Hartford students, and $800,000 for educational advocates.
Transparency & Accessibility of Information to Help Families Make Choices
Information and opportunity will be made accessible to all families by simplifying the application process, providing support in completing lottery applications, maintaining a central location for parent information, and making student data publicly available, which helps to identify and address any inequalities.
Accountability for Diversity & Inclusion within the Choice System
Magnet schools will commit to measurable racial and socioeconomic diversity, and Corrective Action Plans will be implemented for schools that do not meet their goals. In partnership with state officials, Open Choice schools will emphasize their mission and commitments through a “statement of principles.”
Long-Term Regional Planning for Success
An Advisory Committee, drawing on community feedback, and the State of Connecticut will facilitate the long-term sustainability of the Sheff Voluntary Interdistrict Programs by way of promoting diversity among educators, closing racial gaps in academic achievement, and ensuring every student has a seat in the classroom.
1989 →
2025→
2025: Goodwin University Magnet School System Breaks Ground at RiverTech, Connecticut's First Technical Magnet School
On June 3, 2025, Goodwin University Magnet School System leadership and community partners broke ground at the site of RiverTech, the district's latest innovative, early college high school and the first technical magnet school in the state.
Alongside the Mayor of East Hartford, Connor Martin, the Director of School Choice, Robin Cecere, and many special guests, Superintendent, Dr. Sal Menzo, led the ceremonial first dig, which also featured scholars matriculating from Connecticut River Academy Middle Level Program to RiverTech's first class.
RiverTech's mission is to prepare and empower tomorrow’s workforce by integrating cutting-edge technology with real-world industry experience. Through innovative approaches to learning, internships, and hands-on experiences, RiverTech’s scholars are equipped with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, with opportunities to study automation, production/fabrication, system integration, and SMART Factory.
RiverTech's mission is to prepare and empower tomorrow’s workforce by integrating cutting-edge technology with real-world industry experience. Through innovative approaches to learning, internships, and hands-on experiences, RiverTech’s scholars are equipped with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, with opportunities to study automation, production/fabrication, system integration, and SMART Factory.
RiverTech at Goodwin University is the 43rd school created under the umbrella of Sheff v. O’Neill.