CREC - Capitol Region Education Council

Mrs. McKinstry and Mrs. Gosler were treated to a luncheon for all of the CREC nominees for Teacher and Paraeducator of the Year.

At the final assembly of the year, Discovery Academy wished Mrs. Neseralla and Mrs. Dunn well in their next adventure. Mrs. Neseralla will be retiring at the end of the school year and Mrs. Dunn will be teaching PreK next year at another CREC school. They have over 20 years as part of the Discovery Academy family and will be missed.

Exciting News!

CREC has officially earned national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at both the initial-licensure and advanced levels—a significant achievement that recognizes the excellence and impact of its educator preparation programs.

This prestigious accreditation confirms that CREC meets the highest national standards for preparing future educators through rigorous training, strong clinical partnerships, continuous improvement, and measurable program outcomes.

What does this mean for aspiring and current educators?

✔Greater confidence in the quality and credibility of CREC's programs
✔Enhanced opportunities through nationally recognized educator preparation pathways
✔Continued support for diversifying Connecticut's teacher workforce
✔Strengthened programs like the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (CT TRP) and the Advanced Alternate Route to Certification (AARC)
✔Increased assurance for school districts, candidates, and stakeholders that graduates are prepared to make an impact in the classroom

Since its launch in 2019, CT TRP has prepared aspiring educators through a paid residency model that combines rigorous coursework, classroom experience, and district partnerships to create pathways for non-certified candidates to become highly qualified teachers. The CAEP accreditation designation further strengthens CREC’s and CT TRP’s ability to recruit future educators and assure candidates, school districts, and stakeholders that CREC’s educator preparation programs meet the highest standards of excellence.

This milestone reinforces CREC's commitment to innovation, equity, and excellence in education while helping address critical teacher shortages across the state. Congratulations to everyone whose dedication made this achievement possible!

Learn more in the full press release here: https://www.crec.org/news/articles.php?d=05.18.2026

CREC - Capitol Region Education Council
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation