(Program Coordinator)
With a background in advocacy and public health, Victoria Szantyr joined the Legacy Foundation of Hartford as its Open Choice Program Coordinator in February of 2023. In this new role, Victoria’s responsibilities include helping to facilitate Legacy’s Open Choice program and serving as a liaison between the organization, parents, and school administrators.
The purpose of the Legacy Choice Program is to create safe cultural spaces for choice students in their schools and provide targeted academic support. We provide complete wrap-around services including but not limited to academic tutoring, family support, and experiential learning opportunities that assist in their overall development.
Victoria, who holds a Master of Social Work (Policy Practice) degree and a Master of Public Policy degree from UConn along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Anthropology from UConn said she became involved with the Legacy Foundation in Hartford after observing a Saturday Academy class in session and being inspired by both the student engagement and evident staff devotion to them.
“Not only were the students enjoying the lessons, but it was very obvious to me that the teachers and staff enjoyed their jobs,” says Victoria of her initial impression of the Legacy Academy. “I wanted to work somewhere where I knew I could make a difference in people’s lives and enjoy myself.”
Victoria says the strength of the Legacy Foundation is the sheer breath and scope of its programs. “I think Legacy Foundation’s mission is important to the Greater Hartford community because it does not set limitations on Hartford students and encourages a college-going atmosphere. They build their students up academically and personally and support students and families.”
A resident of New Britain, Victoria enjoys cultivating her creative and artistic talents through digital drawing; creating home-made body butter/lotions, soaps, and hair products; and crocheting. She also enjoys reading and watching documentaries about true crime, history, social issues, public health, and global issues, as well as reality tv.
Our description of Legacy Choice: The purpose of the Legacy Choice Program is to create safe cultural spaces for choice students in their schools and provide targeted academic support. We provide complete wrap-around services including but not limited to academic tutoring, family support, and experiential learning opportunities that assist in their overall development.
Not about enabling more students to participate in Open Choice, but about supporting the students in those schools, who are Hartford residents but attend suburban schools.
