“Turnaround” Troup Principal Honored At Gala

As more than 90 percent of Troup School’s students have been showing up for classes so far this year, Troup School Principal Eugene Foreman showed up to a Morris Cove gala — to be recognized for helping turn around the reputation of a state-designated ​“turnaround” school.

Foreman earned that public-service honor Thursday evening during the 13th annual Black and Hispanic Caucus gala, hosted at Anthony’s Ocean View in Morris Cove. 

The 2024 award winners were nominated for their local and state efforts in education, housing, arts, and more. In addition to Foreman, Thursday’s honorees included city Director of Arts, Culture, and Tourism Adrienne Jefferson, Casa Otonel Executive Director Elmer Rivera Bello, S.P.O.R.T Academy founder Edward Trimble, Fair Rent Commission Director Wildaliz Bermudez, and the Connecticut Democrats’ Black Caucus. 

Amongst the hundreds that turned out for the celebration, Foreman had a large entourage made up of family, colleagues, and friends, who described him as not only deserving of Thursday’s recognition but also as an educator who doesn’t care to be in the limelight — and instead does his job because of his passion for supporting youth. 

“I don’t do for the recognition. I do it because the kids keep me going,” he said. 

Troup, a K‑8 neighborhood school on Edgewood Avenue in the Dwight neighborhood, is undergoing a number of changes this year: It has seen the return a uniform policy (green shirts and khaki pants); it is adopting Yondr pouches to limit smartphone use in class; and it is newly a Commissioner’s Network school, a state designation and program designed to improve student achievement in low performing schools.

Click here and here for views inside Troup classrooms to see how teachers are helping students hone their math and reading skills.

Foreman, a New Haven native, is in his sixth year of being at the helm of Troup He began his career as a New Haven teacher back in 1995. 

Foreman thanked his leadership team at Troup, which has taken him some years to arrange. Now that he has the ​“committed and dedicated” staff to support his mission to transform Troup, he said, the school has been off to a great start with attendance two months into this school year. 

So far Troup has only had a few days its daily attendance rates have dropped below 90 percent. On Thursday, before attending the gala, Foreman reported that Troup had only a total of 11 students absent of its total 304 students. 

One long-term goal for Troup, Foreman said, is to ​“see us off the turnaround list.” Over the past six years, Foreman has worked creatively to shift the school’s ​“bad reputation.” 

One way Troup has been able to continue to work toward its goal is by applying to be a Commissioner’s Network school with a turnaround plan in direct collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).

So far joining the state’s Commissioner’s Network has provided Troup with monthly walkthroughs by a CSDE staffer, an executive coach to support Foreman, and professional development for educators twice a week. 

Thursday’s emcees included Metropolitan Business Academy senior Makayla Kidd and sophomore Board of Education representative Jonaily Colon. The duo worked alongside alders and gala organizers to present honorees with their awards. 

Kidd shared about her appreciation for Thursday’s opportunity to network. It’s an opportunity New Haven students don’t get enough, she said. ​“I’m here to show other kids in New Haven that they can do this,” she added. ​“We can have important roles, and every kid deserves the chance to network and be leaders.” 

She concluded that Foreman’s recognition Thursday was significant because of the lack of consistent recognition for New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) educators. ​“They put so much effort in and don’t get the recognition, then it makes them leave,” she said. ​“It’s important to show someone you honor and appreciate them.” 

NHPS Assistant Superintendent Kristina DeNegre directly oversees Foreman and other K‑8 school leaders. She applauded Foreman’s push this year for joining the commissioners network as it showed his dedication to ​“always putting kids first,” she said. 

She added that as a leader Foreman is great at balancing the work of supporting his staff as well as his students. He is collaborative, always open to feedback, ​“leads with conviction and integrity,” and is always thinking outside of the box she concluded.

“I knew he was going to lead the school in a great direction,” DeNegre said. 

NHPS Executive Director of Student Services Typhanie Jackson recommended Foreman’s nomination for Thursday’s awards because he exemplifies the ​“notion of an unsung hero.” 

Assistant Superintendent Keisha Redd Hannans presented Foreman with his award Thursday after recalling his years of supporting her when she was the principal of Celentano Biotech Health and Medical School. While Foreman was a sixth grade teacher, Redd-Hannans said, ​“he never let me down, and I gave him my toughest kids.”

Foreman’s remarks Thursday recalled that he never had plans to become a school principal, but with the endless support of his mother and grandmother he discovered his passion to provide an example to youth and advocate for their development. ​“I do this for my students,” he concluded. ​“I will continue as long as I can with my amazing team.”

Attendees enjoyed saxophone renditions of ​“Isn’t She Lovely” and a live band performance that brought dozens on the dance floor. 

Thursday’s dignitaries, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, offered brief remarks thanking the alders for arranging the annual gala to recognize local leaders’ neighborhood, community, and statewide strides. 

“They are working hard to make New Haven the best city in the United States of America,” Blumenthal said. 

The duo also cheered with the crowd as DeLauro declared ““Kamala Harris is going to be the next president of the United States.“

Before the night’s end, Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers held a moment of silence Thursday for former and current alders who have passed this year and other loved ones.