Ellen Cohn

Ellen E. Cohn is the Deputy Commissioner of the CT State Dept. of Education. She provides leadership to the Academic, Special Education, Turnaround, and Talent Offices of the department. She leads the implementation of the state’s consolidated state plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. She is passionate about Connecticut’s K-3 Literacy Initiative, a multi-tiered system of educator and student supports in the foundational skills of reading ensuring all students will be successful and lifelong readers. Ellen oversees the state’s talent efforts in educator preparation, certification, recruitment, and retention, as well as statewide professional development for educators. She oversees the department’s bureau of special education which serves 72,000 students with disabilities statewide. She supervises the Turnaround Office and its school improvement efforts in 30 of the state’s Alliance Districts, as well as 13 Priority School Districts, and 20 Commissioner Network Schools.

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