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CONNTAC Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a federally-funded program that provides free educational counseling and career planning services to individuals throughout Connecticut.

Individuals Served

  • Adults
  • Disabled Individuals
  • Dislocated Workers
  • Dropouts
  • GED Holders
  • High School Seniors
  • Inmates / Ex-Offenders
  • Veterans

Services Provided

  • Application fee waivers
  • Financial aid workshops
  • Group counseling
  • Coordination of college and career fairs
  • Career planning
  • College referral
  • College tutorial

Applicant Eligibility

  • U.S. citizen living in Connecticut who is interested in post-secondary education and/or career training
  • U.S. citizen living in Connecticut who demonstrates financial, academic, cultural or social need

Note: Eligibility is determined by the EOC Counselor

The CONNTAC EOC Counselor:
  • Identifies and recruits eligible clients
  • Provides academic counseling
  • Guides career decision-making
  • Suggests college referrals and effects placement
  • Guides clients to financial aid resources
  • Conducts follow-up interaction with all applicants

Application Process

  • EOC counselor meets with individuals to describe EOC services
  • CONNTAC application is given to those interested in receiving EOC services
  • Application must be completed, sign and returned to EOC counselor with supporting documents
  • Appointments are scheduled for individual counseling sessions

Locations and Representatives

A central office and ten satellite sites comprise the EOC. Below is a list of the EOC representatives:

Office EOC Representative
CT State Capital
Serving Hartford and surrounding towns
Zeraiah Ramos, Educational Counselor
Email: zramos@conntacinc.org
Phone: 860-906-5073
CT State Gateway
Serving New Haven and surrounding towns
Bryce McKinzie, Educational Counselor
Email:
bmckinzie@conntacinc.org 
Phone:
203-285-2216
CT State Housatonic
Serving Bridgeport and surrounding towns
Chelsea Delucia, Educational Counselor
Email:
cdelucia@conntacinc.org
Phone:
203-332-5041
CT State Manchester
Serving Manchester, East Hartford and surrounding towns
Kaitlyn Parker, Educational Counselor
Email: kparker@conntacinc.org 
Phone: 860-512-3556
CT State Middlesex
Serving Middletown, Meriden and surrounding towns
Xiaoman ‘Jacob’ LI, Educational Counselor
Email:
x.jacobli@conntacinc.org
Phone:
860-343-5718
CT State Naugatuck Valley
Serving Waterbury and surrounding towns
Shanon Taunton, Educational Counselor
Email: staunton@conntacinc.org 
Phone: 203-575-8121
CT State Norwalk
Serving Norwalk, Stamford and surrounding towns
Deshayla Shelley, Assistant Director
Email: dshelley@conntacinc.org 
Phone: 203-857-7109
CT State Quinebaug Valley
Serving Danielson, Willimantic and surrounding towns
Educational Counselor
Phone:
860-932-4125
CT State Three Rivers
Serving Norwich, New London and surrounding towns
Carlton Gill, Educational Counselor
Email:
cgill@conntacinc.org 
Phone:
860-215-9284
CT State Tunxis
Serving Farmington, New Britain and surrounding towns
Erica Coleman, Lead Educational Counselor
Email:
ecoleman@conntacinc.org 
Phone:
860-773-1492
Central Office

Tomeka Williams, Director
Email:
twilliams@conntacinc.org 
Phone:
203-634-7669 x1001

Nausica Vargas, Operations Manager
Email:
nvargas@conntacinc.org
Phone: 203-634-7669 x1002

Taisha Ayala, Office Assistant
Email:
tayala@conntacinc.org   
Phone:
203-634-7669 x1003