Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero is pleased to announce the following administrative appointments effective July 1, 2025:

• Dr. Alfredo (Freddy) Fuentes from mathematics teacher at Cloonan Middle School to Interim Assistant Principal at Dolan Middle School; 

• Kathy Cibulkas Lane from Assistant Principal at Northeast Elementary School to Assistant Principal at Newfield Elementary School; 

• Cynthia Manifold-Dougherty from Assistant Director at APPLES PreK to Assistant Principal at Toquam Magnet Elementary School; 

• Corine Matarasso from Assistant Principal at Toquam Magnet Elementary to Assistant Director at APPLES PreK; 

• Angela Plateroti from Multi-Tiered System of Support Specialist at Northeast Elementary to Interim Assistant Principal at Northeast;  

• Dr. Sidney Watson from Coordinator at SPS Anchor to Interim Director at SPS Anchor. 

 

“The experience of working in a different school community or taking on a new role within a school community is an opportunity for these talented professionals to experience new challenges and learn new approaches to leadership,” said Dr. Lucero. “These moves are an opportunity for Freddy, Kathy, Cynthia, Corine, Angela, and Sidney to continue developing their skills as building leaders within Stamford Public Schools.” 

Dr. Fuentes will report to Dolan Principal Joseph Claps and will fill the vacancy created when Christie Robinson was named the Assistant Principal for Special Education at AITE and Rippowam Middle School. Mrs. Lane will report to Newfield Principal Sharon Longo and will fill the vacancy created when Sandra Ehlers was named Principal at Davenport Ridge Elementary.

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Dr. Alfredo (Freddy) Fuentes is a bilingual educator with more than 40 years of experience as a mathematics teacher, teacher leader, administrator, and college professor. Dr. Fuentes began his career with Hartford Public Schools, where he spent 15 years as a secondary mathematics teacher and district department chair. During the next 25 years he worked as a secondary school mathematics teacher and school administrator for Manchester (CT) Public Schools, Bloomfield (CT) Public Schools, Fort Worth (TX) Independent School District, Minnetonka (MN) Christian Academy, Grand Prairie (TX) Independent School District and Dalton (GA) Public Schools, and also was a professor at Southern Adventist University in Tennessee. He returned to Connecticut in 2022 as a mathematics teacher at Cloonan Middle School. Dr. Fuentes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Mathematics from the Universidad Adventista de las Antillas in Puerto Rico and both a Master of Education in Secondary Mathematics and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. He is certified in Grades 4-12 Mathematics (CT 029), Grades 7-12 Bilingual Mathematics (CT 929) and Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Kathy Cibulkas Lane has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator with Stamford Public Schools. She joined SPS as a teacher at Springdale Elementary School in 1994, and was named assistant principal at Springdale in 2005. She was the assistant principal at Rogers International School from 2010-2012 and the assistant principal at Northeast Elementary from 2012 to 2025. A graduate of Stamford Public Schools, Mrs. Lane earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Connecticut State University, and a Master of Arts in Education, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration, and a sixth-year Certificate in Intermediate Administration and Supervision from the University of Bridgeport. She is certified in Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092)

Corine Matarasso began her tenure with Stamford Public Schools as a student teacher and long-term substitute at K.T. Murphy Elementary School, later joining the school as a full-time classroom teacher where she taught multiple grade levels. She was the administrative intern at K.T. Murphy from 2017 to 2021 and the assistant principal at Toquam Elementary School from September 2021 through June 2025. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY), a Master of Science in Elementary Education and a sixth-year Certificate in Intermediate Administration or Supervision from the University of Bridgeport. She also earned a certificate in remedial reading from Sacred Heart University and completed the PK-3 Leadership Program at the NEAG School of Education at the University of Connecticut.  

Cynthia Manifold-Dougherty has more than 20 years of experience in Stamford Public Schools, serving first as a K-2 Reading Interventionist, Special Education Teacher, and Classroom Teacher from 2003 through 2015. She joined the central office as Curriculum Associate for Professional Development (English Learners) in 2015 and was promoted to Coordinator of Professional Development in 2018. She was the district’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Elementary) from 2020 to 2024 before joining APPLES PreK as an Assistant Director in 2024-25. Ms. Manifold-Doughtery earned a Bachelors in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism from the University of New Orleans, a Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Southern Connecticut State University, and a certificate in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University. She is certified in K-6 Elementary Education (CT 013), Adult Education Teaching Non-English Speaking Adults (CT 088), PreK-12 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CT 011) and Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092). 

Angela Plateroti has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and teacher leader with Stamford Public Schools. She began her tenure with SPS as a teacher at Westover Magnet Elementary School, where she was a K-4 classroom teacher from 2004 to 2021. She moved to the central office as a Teacher on Special Assignment for K-5 STEM in 2021-2022 and was the Teacher Leader for Student Support at Julia A. Stark Elementary School from 2022 to 2024. She was named the Multi-Tiered System of Support Specialist at Northeast for the 2024-25 school year and served most of the year as interim assistant principal. In addition, Mrs. Plateroti has been a head teacher in the SPS Summer School Program each year since 2019. A graduate of Westhill High School, Mrs. Plateroti earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Education from Sacred Heart University and a sixth year Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. She is certified in K-6 Elementary Education (CT 013) and Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092)

 

Dr. Sidney Watson joined Stamford Public Schools as a secondary mathematics teacher at Stamford High School in 2010 and was a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) serving as a curriculum associate for secondary mathematics from 2013 to 2015. In 2015, he joined Rippowam Middle School as a mathematics teacher and math instructional coach. He served as the Assistant Principal at Rippowam from 2017 to 2023, when he was appointed Coordinator of the SPS Anchor alternative education program for secondary students. Prior to joining SPS, Dr. Watson taught secondary mathematics in Norfolk (VA) Public Schools from 2006 to 2010 and was a teacher and paraprofessional at Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2005. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Norfolk State University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Regent University, an Educational Specialist (Ed.S) degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from Walden University, and an Education Doctor degree (Ed.D) in Advanced Educational Leadership from Regent University. He is certified in Grades 7-12 Mathematics (CT 029) and Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).   

Dear SPS Community: 

This summer, approximately 2,400 students in PreK-12 will participate in summer school academic support programs or extended school year programs for students with disabilities. Students at Apples PreK and those in grades 9-12 began their programs this week, and elementary school programs begin on Monday, June 30. If your child is beginning an elementary school summer program on June 30, check the PowerSchool Parent Portal for your child’s bus information. 

Thank you to the more than 500 teachers, paraeducators, and other staff who are working this summer to provide summer school and extended school year programs for our students.  

Student Weekday Summer Meal Program Begins July 1 

Breakfast and lunch will be available again this summer for all students 18 years of age or younger. Meals will be available from 9 to 9:30 am (breakfast) and 11 am to 12 pm (lunch) on weekdays as follows: 

• Cloonan: July 1 to August 8 
• Julia A. Stark: July 1 to July 25 
• Rogers International: July 1 to August 8 
• Strawberry Hill: July 1 to July 25 
• Westhill: July 1 to August 1 
• Westover: July 1 to August 8 

Kindergarten Registration Event on July 12 

Children who live in Stamford and turn five years old on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to begin kindergarten in August. Please encourage anyone with an eligible child to register as soon as possible.

The Office of Family & Community Engagement will host another Kindergarten Registration Event on Saturday, July 12 from 10 am to 1 pm at the SPS Welcome Center. Language support will be available for Spanish and Haitian-Creole speakers. Please attend if you need assistance and bring the following with you: 

1. Photo ID of parent or legal guardian 
2. Child’s birth certificate or other official documentation proving child's age and name of parents
3. Proof of address (2 forms)

For more information about registration, click here or email OFCE@stamfordps.org. 

SPS at the Stamford Downtown Farmer’s Market 

SPS will be at the Stamford Downtown Farmer’s Market through July 31 as follows: 

• Saturday, June 28
• Saturday, July 19
• Saturday, July 26

The market is located in Veterans Memorial Park (130 Atlantic Street) and is open every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm. SPS staff will be at the Farmer’s Market from 9 am to 12 pm to answer questions and share information about our schools.  

Mobile Food Pantry Returns to Stamford on July 19 

The Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry returns to Stamford on Saturday, July 19. The Food Pantry will be set up in the Cloonan Middle School parking lot along Powell Avenue between W. North and Ivy Streets. If you or someone you know could benefit from the food pantry, please plan to attend between 8:30 and 10:30 am. 

Annual Physicals for Grades 5, 7, and 10

The State of Connecticut requires students to have an annual physical before entering Kindergarten, 7th Grade, and 10th Grade. Please bring this form to your child’s medical appointment so it can be completed for the school nurse. If your child does not have a healthcare provider they see regularly, click here for a list of providers that offer school entry physicals.

Weekly Message Resumes on August 1 

Please note that this is the final Superintendent’s Weekly Message for 2024-25. The Weekly will resume on August 1 with plenty of news and information about the upcoming school year. 

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent of Schools

Espanol

Creole

Last night the Stamford Board of Education voted to approve the appointment of Sandra Ehlers as principal of Davenport Ridge Elementary School. Ms. Ehlers, whose  appointment is effective July 1, 2025, has been the interim principal at Roxbury Elementary School since July 2024.  

“Sandra is an accomplished educator and teacher leader, who for the past 11 years has supported three different elementary schools as an assistant principal and interim principal,” said Superintendent Lucero. “Her instructional leadership skills and extensive experience in managing school communities during times of significant change will be an asset at Davenport, which will begin the school year with its first new principal in 14 years. I am thrilled that the principal interview committees recognized Sandra as the right person to lead Davenport forward into a new era.” 

Ms. Ehlers joined Stamford Public Schools in 1997 as a special education teacher at Hart Magnet Elementary School. She was a special education teacher at Stillmeadow Elementary School from 1998 to 2011 and served as the IEP Compliance Teacher and later the SRBI Support Teacher at K.T. Murphy Elementary from 2011 to 2014. She moved into school administration as the assistant principal at Cranbury Elementary School in Norwalk in 2014, returning to Stamford in 2018 as the assistant principal at Toquam Magnet Elementary School. She has been at Roxbury Elementary School since 2021, first as assistant principal (2021-24) and then as interim principal (2024-25). She began her career as a teacher at Villa Maria Education Center, where she led a self-contained classroom for students with severe disabilities. 

She earned a Bachelors in Special and General Education from Providence College, a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Bridgeport. She is certified in K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

The Davenport Ridge Elementary School principal vacancy was filled through a competitive hiring process that attracted candidates from within and outside Stamford Public Schools. Committees of teachers, staff, parents, and community members conducted two rounds of interviews, and the final candidate also met with Superintendent Lucero and members of the Board of Education. 

 

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June 16, 2025

Dear SPS Community:

As most of you know, Dr. Lucero informed the Board of Education earlier today that she will not be seeking an extension to her current contract that ends on June 30, 2026. On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to thank Dr. Lucero for her tireless work on behalf of our school community over the last 12 years. We look forward to working with Dr. Lucero over the next 12 months to ensure a seamless transition to her successor.

For the last six years, Dr. Lucero has led Stamford Public Schools with vision, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is in the best interests of all students. In her 12 years in Stamford, she has led or played an integral role in nearly every major SPS initiative, including: 

• Opening of the Strawberry Hill interdistrict K-8 magnet school;

• Coordinating the district’s response to the mold crisis, which included a complete rehabilitation of Westover Magnet School and the decision to create a joint City/BOE in-house team to manage all building maintenance and upkeep;

• Partnering with the City and the State Delegation on the long-term facilities project that in the near-term will result in a new Westhill High School, a new Roxbury K-8 School, and a new two-campus K-8 school in Stamford’s Cove neighborhood;  

• The first comprehensive curriculum audit in more than 20 years, followed by a three-year initiative to rewrite the entire PreK-12 curriculum in all content areas; 

• A master staffing plan that ensures each school has the resources necessary to support students and that such resources are equitable and based on the same criteria.    

I want to make clear that it is the Board’s current intention to have Superintendent Lucero fulfill the terms of her contract. This will give the Board the time and space to focus on a thorough, comprehensive, and professional search for a new superintendent without the disruption or added expense of an interim appointment.  

The superintendent search process will begin in the next few weeks. The first step will be to create an ad hoc superintendent search committee that will be charged with identifying a professional search firm to manage the recruitment and selection process. The BOE will work with that firm to develop a timeline for the search process, which must include opportunities for all constituencies to provide input about the qualities they want to see in the next superintendent. Regular updates and information will be posted on the Board of Education website and shared during the BOE’s Labor Committee and Regular Monthly Meetings. 

This is a time of great promise and opportunity for our Stamford Public Schools. If we are to assure the continuation of meaningful progress within our schools, it will require a relentless effort by all of us to listen to one another and to clearly define and agree upon our priorities for our schools, and the leadership values we seek in the next superintendent.

It is within our grasp to ensure that every student in our care has access to opportunities for K-12 and post-secondary educational success. As we begin the search for the next superintendent, let us keep that focus in mind as we identify the best candidate to lead our district forward. 

 

Respectfully,

 

Michael Hyman
President
Stamford Board of Education

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16 de junio de 2025

Estimada comunidad de las SPS: 

Como la mayoría de ustedes saben, la Dra. Lucero informó a la Junta de Educación el día de hoy que no buscará una extensión a su contrato actual que termina el 30 de junio de 2026. En nombre de la Junta de Educación, quiero agradecer a la Dra. Lucero por su incansable trabajo en nombre de nuestra comunidad escolar durante los últimos 12 años. Esperamos con interés trabajar con la Dra. Lucero en los próximos 12 meses para asegurar una transición sin problemas a su sucesor.

Durante los últimos seis años, la Dra. Lucero ha dirigido las Escuelas Públicas de Stamford con visión, dedicación y un compromiso inquebrantable para hacer lo que está en el mejor interés de todos los estudiantes. En sus 12 años en Stamford, ha dirigido o desempeñado un papel integral en casi todas las iniciativas importantes de SPS, incluyendo: 

• La apertura de la escuela imán Strawberry Hill interdistrital K-8;

• La coordinación de la respuesta del distrito a la crisis del moho, que incluyó una rehabilitación completa de Westover Magnet School y la decisión de crear un equipo interno conjunto de la Ciudad /BOE para gestionar todo el mantenimiento de edificios y conservación;

• La asociación con la Ciudad y la Delegación Estatal en el proyecto de instalaciones a largo plazo que a corto plazo dará lugar a una nueva Escuela Secundaria Westhill, una nueva Escuela Roxbury K-8, y una nueva escuela K-8 de dos campus en el barrio Cove de Stamford; 

• La primera auditoría integral del plan de estudios en más de 20 años, seguida de una iniciativa de tres años para reescribir todo el plan de estudios PreK-12 en todas las áreas de contenido; 

• Un plan maestro de dotación de personal que garantice que cada escuela tenga los recursos necesarios para apoyar a los estudiantes y que dichos recursos sean equitativos y basados en los mismos criterios.    

Quiero dejar claro que la intención actual de la Junta es que la Superintendente Lucero cumpla los términos de su contrato. Esto le dará a la Junta el tiempo y el espacio para centrarse en una búsqueda exhaustiva, completa y profesional de un nuevo superintendente sin la interrupción o el gasto añadido de un nombramiento interino.

El proceso de búsqueda de superintendente comenzará en las próximas semanas. El primer paso será crear un comité ad hoc de búsqueda de superintendente que se encargará de identificar una empresa de búsqueda profesional para gestionar el proceso de reclutamiento y selección. El BOE trabajará con esa empresa para desarrollar un calendario para el proceso de búsqueda, que debe incluir oportunidades para que todos los distritos electorales proporcionen información sobre las cualidades que quieren ver en el próximo superintendente. La información y las actualizaciones periódicas se publicarán en el sitio web del Consejo de Educación y se compartirán durante el Comité de Trabajo y las reuniones mensuales ordinarias del Consejo.

Este es un momento de gran promesa y oportunidad para nuestras Escuelas Públicas de Stamford. Si queremos asegurar la continuación del progreso significativo dentro de nuestras escuelas, se requerirá un esfuerzo incesante de todos nosotros para escucharnos unos a otros y para definir claramente y ponerse de acuerdo sobre nuestras prioridades para nuestras escuelas, y los valores de liderazgo que buscamos en el próximo superintendente.

Está a nuestro alcance garantizar que todos los alumnos a nuestro cargo tengan acceso a oportunidades de éxito educativo K-12 y postsecundario. Al comenzar la búsqueda del próximo superintendente, mantengamos ese enfoque en mente mientras identificamos al mejor candidato para dirigir nuestro distrito hacia adelante.

 

Atentamente,

Michael Hyman
Presidente

Junta de Educación de Stamford

 

ReplyForward

Superintendent Lucero Will Not Seek Contract Extension 

• Intends to fulfill final year of contract ending on June 30, 2026

• Will lead PreK-12 international school beginning July 2026  

Today, Dr. Tamu Lucero informed the Stamford Board of Education (BOE) that she will not seek an extension of her current contract with the Board, which ends on June 30, 2026. Dr. Lucero also shared that she was recently recruited for, and has accepted, an offer to serve as the director and head of school at a private, PreK-12 international school in Africa effective July 1, 2026.

“Serving as Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Lucero. “Throughout my time in Stamford, I have built strong connections across the community — visiting all 22 of our schools on a regular basis, supporting local organizations, attending hundreds of events each year, and engaging with thousands of students, staff, families, and community members. These relationships have shaped my work and given me a deep sense of belonging here in Stamford, which is why I am committed to staying with SPS through June 2026 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.”

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Lucero for 11 years as a State Representative and now as Mayor,” said Stamford Mayor, Caroline Simmons. “I have witnessed firsthand her passion for education, her deep commitment to strengthening Stamford Public Schools, and her dedication to the Stamford community. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Lucero over the next year on the issues that matter most to our students and families, and will provide whatever support I can to the Board of Education as they seek to find our next superintendent to build on the strong foundation she has helped create."

“During my 16 years in Hartford as a State Representative and State Senator, I have worked to address the educational opportunity gap in Connecticut to ensure all students have the resources and support they need to succeed,” said State Senator Pat Billie Miller. “Dr. Lucero shares this vision and has been a true partner to me and my colleagues in the State Delegation. She has been an integral part of the delegation's efforts to bring crucially needed funding back to Stamford for new school construction and services for students with special education needs. She has also helped advocate for important legislation, including the Science of Reading. The positive impact of her work on behalf of Stamford’s students and families will be felt long after she leaves the district.”

Dr. Lucero is an active member of the Stamford community, serving on the boards of numerous organizations including the Ferguson Library, SoundWaters, the Avon Theater, Diocesan Pastoral Council, Building One Community, Horizons at New Canaan Country School, and Children’s Learning Centers Leadership Council. She previously served on the boards of Stamford Cradle to Career and the Bartlett Arboretum. Dr. Lucero is a tri-chair of the Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendents (CAUS), a board member of Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School, a member of the Connecticut State Department of Education Superintendent Advisory Panel, and serves on the State of Connecticut's 13-member Reading Leadership Implementation Council. Dr. Lucero is also an Adjunct Professor at both Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University.  

Dr. Lucero joined SPS in June 2013 as Assistant Superintendent, Elementary and was unanimously appointed Superintendent in April 2019. She is the longest-serving SPS Superintendent since Dr. William Papallo (1983 to 1992).  

As Superintendent, Dr. Lucero has led system-wide improvements aligned with the five pillars of the 2022–2027 Strategic Plan: (1) Strong Curriculum, (2) Student-Centered, (3) Community-Focused, (4) Culture of Inclusion, and (5) Operational Excellence.

• Launched the first comprehensive curriculum audit in over 20 years (2021–22), followed by a three-year initiative (2022–25) to design and implement gold-standard PreK–12 curricula across all content areas.
• Initiated an Instructional Leadership & Development Program to ensure all building administrators are equipped to support teachers in delivering rigorous, Tier 1 instruction to every student.
• Restructured Teaching & Learning, aligning all teams with responsibility for curriculum, instruction, and assessment — including Elementary Humanities, Elementary STEM, Secondary Humanities, Secondary STEM, Multilingual Learners, Special Education, and Summer School — under a Chief Academic Officer. 
• Strengthened district safety and security by establishing a director of security position to coordinate all safety and security initiatives, expanded School Resource Officers to the middle schools, expanded use of security personnel in all K–12 schools, and supported facilities improvements including fortified entrances and the Raptor VisitorSafe system.
• Partnered with the City of Stamford to develop a Long-Term Facilities Plan to upgrade or replace the district’s aging school buildings.
• Worked with the City of Stamford and the Stamford Delegation to secure historic construction reimbursements from the State, including 80% for the new Westhill High School and 60% for the new Roxbury K–8 and Cove-area K–8 campuses.
• Opened the SPS Welcome Center at Cloonan Middle School to support families with registration, health appointments, technology access, and community resources.
• Implemented a comprehensive Master Staffing Plan to ensure that (1) every school has the resources necessary to support students; (2) staffing in each building is based on the same criteria, including projected enrollment and contractual requirements, and (3) staffing is equitable with all schools at each level having the same types of supports  
• Implemented 1:1 devices for all students and staff, and developed a Master Technology Plan to improve systems for instructional and operational efficiency.
• Partnered with the Stamford Education Association and Stamford Administrative Unit to create a new Professional Growth, Development, and Evaluation Plan for educators.
• In response to loss of COVID-era federal grant funding and the rapidly increasing cost of special education services, student transportation, and employee benefits, worked with the Board of Education to secure the largest annual SPS operating budget increases in more than 15 years in FY25 and FY26.
• Expanded support for Multilingual Learners and Bilingual Families by adding bilingual parent facilitators districtwide; providing enhanced translation of print/online content; providing simultaneous interpretation at district wide meetings; and launching Café con la Super, a monthly Spanish-language family meeting.
• Expanded services for students with disabilities by increasing the number of in-district specialized classrooms from 30 in 2018-19 to more than 50 in 2024-25, providing opportunities for more students with moderate to severe disabilities to remain in-district. 
• Supported creation of a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Program at Stamford High School and Westhill High School, offering training in high-demand career fields, including education, advanced manufacturing, construction management, and public safety.
• Maintained a fiscally responsible central office, with annual spending on central office 50% below the state average.

The BOE is responsible for recruiting, selecting, and hiring the Superintendent of Schools. More information about that process will be available in the coming weeks.  

Click here to read Dr. Lucero's message to the school community.

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