Our History & Our Future
The Goodwin University Magnet School System Scholars' Alumni Association Welcomes You
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
If you are a GUMSS alum and are interested in joining the SAA and/or being added to our mailing list, please click the button below to share your story with us and complete an alumni profile. With any questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Horton Sheff at ehortonsheff@goodwinmagnetsystem.org or at (860) 727-6942.
Complete Your GUMSS Alumni Profile!
with 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.
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.
from 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 due to a lack of state resources being spent in areas with majority Black and Latino populations. The lead plaintiff was Milo Sheff, the son of Elizabeth Horton Sheff, and the state of Connecticut and Governor William A. O’Neill were listed as defendants. Following a decision made in favor of the defense, the action was appealed and sent to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1996. On July 9, 1996, in a 4-3 decision, the court ruled in favor of Sheff plaintiffs concluding that the state was constitutionally obligated to provide children with equal educational opportunities and 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 contributed to large, concentrated areas of minority groups in Hartford. Many years passed before the Connecticut Supreme Court passed a settlement in January 2020 that would ensure more choice seats for students and more funding for extracurricular activities for students in Connecticut.
... to 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 is the 43rd school created under the umbrella of Sheff v. O’Neill.
Continued Strength!