Episode #54: Feeney Talks With Jen and Randi (West Hartford SEPTO)

Show Notes

Jen Sherman and Randi Leopald serve on the West Hartford Special Education Parent Teacher Organization. (West Hartford SEPTO). Jen is the President and Randi is the Fundraiser.  In addition to that, Jen and Randi are both educators. Jen teaches Business and Hospitality for the Hartford Public Schools. Randi teaches Pre-K for the West Hartford Public Schools.    

www.facebook.com/whsepto 

www.whps.org/pupil-services/septo-special-education-pto 

[e-mail]   

It was great to sit down and talk with Jen and Randi.    

We talked about: 

What is SEPTO (minute 2) 

"How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids" Comedy and Book Event (minute 5) 

3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to run SEPTO (minute 8) 

Events: First, Last, Best, Worst (minute 10) 

Rita's Celebrity Server Event (minute 14) 

Miracle League Field (minute 16) 

Jen and Randi's Favorite Teacher (minute 20) 

Special Education in West Hartford Public Schools (minute 27) 

Extra-curricular school activities (minute 30) 

How they got involved with SEPTO (minute 37) Safe Grad (minute 45) 

Speak Up about Stubbs (minute 48) 

Crazy Questions sponsored by Donut Crazy (minute 53) 

The Bird Call Game (minute 1.03) 

"Community Voices Toward Equity West Hartford Listens"  book (minute 1.10)   

Shout outs: 

Directline Media - www.directlinemediaproductions.com 

WeHa Brewing and Roasting - www.wehabrewing.com 

Speak Up about Stubbs - www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fm-Gcbz6g

Safe Grad for Conard - https://conard.whps.org/parent-portal/pto/safe-grad-information

Safe Grad for Hall - https://hall.whps.org/pto-and-safe-grad/hall-safegrad 

Podcast Sponsors:  

Donut Crazy - www.donutcrazy.com 

The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com 

West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com 

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com 

GastoPark - www.thegastropark.com

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com