Gwendolyn Samuel - Biography

Ms. Gwendolyn Samuel is a parent of children that attend Connecticut public schools, and the
Founder of three, all volunteer, community-based organizations that advocate for the educational rights of all
children from birth through college graduation. These include the CT Parents Union (CTPU), a membership
association whereby parents, guardians and families are connected with the educational resources and support
system necessary to ensure that neither race, zip-code nor socio-economic status is a predictor of their childs
success; the State of Black CT Alliance, an organization which advocates for equity and access to high-quality
socioeconomic and educational opportunities for communities of color and other vulnerable populations; and the
Meriden Kids Walk Safe Coalition (MKWS) a Safe Routes to School Initiative.

A graduate of Springfield College, with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Ms. Samuel works tirelessly to
promote effective and sustainable practices that foster the academic and social development of children while
seeking to strengthen families and communities. She firmly strives to ensure that each and every child has access to
a high quality education and equitable access to opportunity. She also firmly believes that a well informed community
is a better and stronger, community.

Ms. Samuel, along with other parents and educational advocates, successfully introduced a form of the so called
Parent Trigger law to Connecticut. The law gives parents legislative redress through School Governance Councils,
allowing them to make recommendations for a school improvement model that supports turning around a systemically
low-performing school.

In recognition of her work, Parenting Magazine selected, Ms. Samuel as one of 51 moms from across the country to
represent their state at the inaugural, March 2010 Mom Congress on Education and Learning Conference at
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In July 2010 and 2011, Ms. Samuel was a presenter at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Administrator
Preparation program.

In September 2010, Ms. Samuel was selected to sit on an educational panel at the NBC Universal Education Nation
Summit in New York.

In April 2011, she presented a workshop on the Parent Trigger law at the 2011 Parenting Magazine Mom Congress
Education and Learning Conference in D.C.

In June 2011, she presented at the 115th Annual National PTA Convention, in Orlando, Florida on her Meriden Kids
Walk Safe Safe Routes to School Initiative. The workshop was entitled Safe Routes to School: Advocating for
Wellness & Growing Successful Programs.

In July 2011, the Connecticut Parents Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of a grandparent that was arrested for putting
her grandchildren in her school district. The lawsuit is designed to end separate and unequal school systems via
school residency laws/zip code education.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/109265405/CT-Lawsuit-to-END-Separate-and-Unequal-School-Residency-Laws

In October 2011, she presented at the National Association for the Early Young Child (NAEYC) Conference in Orlando
Florida; Engaging Parents, Teachers and Kids as they Transition into Kindergarten.

In April of 2012, Ms. Samuel presented at the Springfield College Graduate School Masters Program on Connecticut
School Residency Laws better known as Zip Code education.
In March, April and May of 2012, Ms. Samuel presented at Teach for America CT Professional Development Days in
Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven entitled, Parent and Teachers in Partnership and their Southern New England
Summit with Rhode Island and Connecticut, segment entitled Parents and Communities as Change Agents in
Schools

In 2010 and April of 2012, Ms. Samuel presented at the Connecticut Delta Day at the State Capitol on Education
Reform - Real Parental and Community Engagement within Connecticut Communities.

In April 2012 Ms. Samuel named volunteer Regional Director (Eastern) of the National Family Engagement Alliance
In April 2012 Ms. Samuel appeared on FOX news with Gerri Willis Host of the Willis Report
In May 2012 Ms. Samuel testified before Congress in the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and
Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), the hearing examined state and local efforts to increase
parental engagement and options.
http://rishawnbiddle.org/video/ctpu_congressional_parentpowerhearing_05162012.mp4

In September 2012 Ms. Samuel was featured on Comcast newsmaker which was also featured on CNN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AxpNtK2FaA

In December 2012, Connecticut Parents Union launched the Coping and Caring Parent Express Bus
which hosted various healing activities. There was a special presentation in Newtown by Connecticut youth.
Activities included:

* The creation of personal condolences cards for the families and community of Sandy Hook Elementary School,
hand-delivered in Newtown.

* Grief and bereavement counselors, children's books giveaways, Characters w. book readings and healing activities
on coping with life and loss was available on the bus.

* A Heroes Tribute to Educators and First Responders.
Video of event: http://animoto.com/play/ZTe1XjV5s70P0eizewCPCw

In 2013, the Connecticut Parents Union, under the leadership of Ms. Samuel, spearheaded community efforts to
decriminalize Connecticuts school residency/zip-code laws thus ensuring all children have access to safe and high
performing educational opportunities regardless of where they live.

House Bill 6677 stops the felony arrest of parents who enroll their children in schools outside of their zip-code.
(http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/act/pa/pdf/2013PA-00211-R00HB-06677-PA.pdf)

The legislation later was passed with consent of the Senate and signed into law June 24, 2013 by Governor Dannel P.
Malloy.

Ms. Samuel is the co-founder of the National Parents Union and she also leads the End Unjust Zip-Code Laws
Public Awareness Campaign. A bipartisan national coalition of parents, civil rights leaders and education advocates
have joined forces to fight for the decriminalization of school residency/zip-code laws thus ensuring all children
have access to safe and high performing educational opportunities regardless of where they live.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/130796770/Unjust-Education-ZipCode-laws-Civil-Rights-Complaint

In 2014, Ms. Samuel presented at the Yale School of Management Education Leadership
Conference session entitled Second Bounce. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jOxrhEoBBw