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“Why is it important for students to learn about civics in school?”
Connecticut students, teachers, civics experts and practitioners, and government officials speak about the importance of civics.
The Connecticut Democracy Center is
the proud State Affiliate of
Dan began his career with CT-N in 2005 after working as a Production Assistant for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He advanced from Production Technician to Lead Production Technician before being promoted to Director of Operations in 2021. In this role, he was responsible for maintenance, repairs, and installations across the entire CT-N physical plant. In addition to his extensive technical expertise in broadcasting and plant operations, Dan oversaw the recruitment, training, scheduling, and professional development of all production staff. Notably, Dan led CT-N’s expansion into the Legislative Office Building hearing rooms by designing the initial workflow and staffing plan and upgrading critical computer systems to eliminate production bottlenecks and ultimately provide increased accessibility to legislative proceedings.
In 2025, Dan was promoted to Executive Director of Media Services where he proudly oversees all aspects of CT-N operations on behalf of the Connecticut General Assembly. Dan is a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and holds a CNBT certification.
Brian joined The Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) team in 2014 as Head of Education at Connecticut’s Old State House. In this role, he manages the museum’s K-12 school programs and works with a team of educators to create authentic, educational, and participatory experiences that awaken civic engagement and awareness
In 2015, Cofrancesco created Kid Governor®, a statewide civics program for 5th graders which unites CTDC’s mission of teaching civics and history with his personal values of civic participation and engagement. His vision, design and strategic development of the program have resulted in Kid Governor®’s recognition nationally by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the American Association for State and Local History, and the launch of affiliate programs in Oregon and New Hampshire. He currently leads the Connecticut and national Kid Governor® programs.
Prior to CTDC, Cofrancesco worked at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art. He is active in the museum and heritage communities and has served on the Planning Committee for the Connecticut Museum Educator Roundtable, the board of the Meriden Historical Society, and coordinates a Hartford-based museum networking group. He has served on boards and committees for the Connecticut League of History Organizations, Connecticut Humanities, the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, the Center of Connecticut Regional Tourism District, and Kiwanis International. He is a frequent workshop facilitator and keynote speaker in the museum and community service communities, and delivered a keynote address at the New England Museum Association’s 100th Anniversary Conference.
Cofrancesco holds a Bachelors of Architectural History from the University of Virginia. He is co-editor of Falmouth, Jamaica: Architecture as History (2014, University of the West Indies Press).
Sally leads the Connecticut Democracy Center team at Connecticut’s Old State House. For more than 12 years the team has managed the National Historic Landmark, on behalf of the General Assembly, creating popular school and public programs, tours, exhibitions, the Kid Governor® and Connecticut History Day programs, and a downtown Farmers Market. Every program uses history and civics to help people understand the world and take action on issues that concern them.
In 2015, the New England Museum Association honored Whipple with an Award of Excellence for more than 30 years of innovative, visionary management of museums and museum programs at four historic sites: Connecticut’s Old State House, the Mark Twain and Noah Webster Houses, and the Lebanon Historical Society Museum. She has provided consulting services for 25 Connecticut institutions. In 2004, she consulted as the Education Director for the National Archives’ American Originals exhibit at the University of Hartford’s Museum of American Political Life and as a lead exhibit team member for the accompanying Connecticut Originals exhibit. In 2005, Whipple oversaw the installation and programming of the Smithsonian’s Barn Again! exhibit at the Lebanon Historical Society and created innovative hands-on learning spaces for students and families. Her 1989 exhibition on African Americans in West Hartford, eventually led to West Hartford’s decision to name a school after Bristow, a man once enslaved and then freed in West Hartford.
Successful programming at Connecticut’s Old State House has relied on her leadership and strategic thinking. Her expertise is sought after in the history and museum communities, evidenced by her speaking engagements and roles as past Chair of Connecticut Humanities, past President of the Connecticut League of History Organizations, and board member for Discovering Amistad, Inc., the Coltsville Heritage Partnership, and the Association for the Study of State and Local History. She also serves on the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Civic Health Advisory Group. In addition to a B. A. in History from Seton Hill College and M. A. from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in History Museum Studies, Whipple has leadership certificates and a Certificate in Civic Engagement for Historic Sites from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Paul Skaff is a broadcast and multimedia professional with more than thirty-five years of experience spanning the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. Since joining the Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) in 2000, he has played a central role in expanding the organization’s programs, reach, and impact.
A New Jersey native, Paul began his production career in 1989 at a local cable television company, where he created a talent show showcasing local musicians. In 1992, he took over operations of the John H. Stamler Police Academy’s video production studio, demonstrating the power of media in law enforcement training. During this time, he wrote and directed policy and tactical training videos, crime-scene reenactments, and documentaries. He also leveraged emerging digital video technologies to develop his own forensic video enhancement protocols—techniques that exceeded those used by the FBI Academy in Quantico.
Paul relocated to Connecticut in 2000 and joined the Connecticut Democracy Center, where he spent 18 years as a project manager supporting educational initiatives and leading multiple production departments for the Connecticut Network (CT-N). In 2008, he played a key role in transitioning operations of Connecticut’s Old State House to the CTDC, helping strengthen its civic engagement and public outreach efforts. Under his leadership, CT-N achieved groundbreaking technical advancements in statewide election coverage—efforts that earned him Emmy nominations for Producer (2015) and Technical Producer (2012). He also developed the CT-N State Civics Toolbox®, a comprehensive resource to support K–12 civics education, and expanded both the breadth and accessibility of coverage of state government and public policy. In 2018, Paul was appointed Executive Director of Media Services, assuming leadership of CT-N and proudly stewarding the engineering, production and distribution of the network.
Since becoming President & CEO in 2024, Paul is leading the efforts to promote informed civic participation through a “life-time pathway” of civic opportunities. Paul’s public service includes serving on the Civic Health Advisory Group; volunteering at MACC and as an Ex-Officio member of the Supreme Court Historical Society.
