Home

Next Tuesday, November 11 is Veterans Day, a time to recognize and honor the members of the United States Armed Forces who served our nation with bravery and honor. There are more than 17.5 million U.S. Military veterans in the United States, including approximately 150,000 right here in Connecticut. Each November, our schools plan a number of activities to honor veterans, including musical performances, assemblies, classroom visits, writing thank you notes, and more. I’d like to thank our teachers, administrators, and staff for creating these opportunities for our students to learn about and honor veterans’ contributions to our nation.

Healthcare Subsidies for Paraeducators

We are pleased to share that the State of Connecticut is once again providing public school districts with funding to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs for paraeducators. Stamford Public Schools recently received $543,916.59 from the Paraeducator Subsidy Program funded by the General Assembly. These funds will be used to reduce healthcare costs for 385 qualifying SPS paraeducators. Across the State, more than 7,500 paraeducators from 160 districts will benefit from the Paraeducator Subsidy Program.

AITE Information Session is November 15 at 9:30 am

If your child is interested in applying to AITE for high school, be sure to attend the information session on Saturday, November 15 at 9:30 am. If you cannot attend on November 15, there will be another session on Thursday, December 11 at 6 pm.

Stamford High’s Production of All in the Timing Opens Tonight

All in the Timing—a collection of one-act comedic plays by American playwright David Ives—opens tonight and runs for the next two weekends. All performances are at 7:30 pm in the Stamford High School Auditorium. Click here to purchase tickets.

ICYMI: High School Information Night Presentation & Video

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Wednesday night for High School Information Night. We hope you enjoyed learning about the many specialized academic programs at our high schools as well as Advanced Placement and UConn Early College Experience course offerings and the Career Pathways Programs at Stamford High and Westhill. If you missed the meeting, you can watch the video or view the presentation in English or Spanish

Meeting for Families of Students with Special Needs is November 12

The Stamford Coalition of Parents Expecting Success (SCOPES) will host its next meeting on Wednesday, November 12 at 6 pm at the SPS Welcome Center. The Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) will present “Steps to Improving Communication with the Special Education Team.” Michelle Fitzgerald from CPAC will lead this training, which will be presented with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. Please register to let us know that you will attend.

Cafe con la Super is Monday, November 17

Please join us in person at the SPS Welcome Center on Monday, November 17 at 6:30 pm for Cafe con la Super, our monthly Spanish language community conversation. This month we will share information about the magnet school application process. This session is highly recommended for families with children in PreK, Grade 5, and Grade 8. Please register to let us know you will attend.

No School on Tuesday

Finally, a reminder that schools are closed on Tuesday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. Thank you again to those in our community who served as a member of the United States Armed Forces. We are grateful for your service.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent

Espanol

Creole

CSDE Finds No Merit in SEA’s Ethics Complaint Against Superintendent

Kathleen Steinberg

Nov 2 2025 2:55 PM

In a detailed ruling dated October 31, 2025, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) dismissed in full the Stamford Education Association’s (SEA) complaint against Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero, finding the union’s allegations “without merit.”

The complaint, filed by SEA President John Corcoran on July 9, 2025, accused Dr. Lucero of violating the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility for School Administrators. After a full review, the CSDE’s Director of Legal and Governmental Affairs, Michael P. McKeon, issued a joint letter of response to SEA President Corcoran and Board of Education President Michael Hyman stating that none of the allegations constituted ethical violations or warranted further action.

“The SEA’s June 9, 2025, claims that the Superintendent has violated the Code of Professional Responsibility for School Administrators is without merit,” McKeon wrote. “As such, there is no basis for the CSDE to take any action with respect to the Superintendent’s certification. Additionally, the CSDE has no authority for superseding or otherwise interfering with the Stamford Board’s personnel decisions or intradistrict policies, particularly when they are either a subject of the collective bargaining agreement between the Stamford Board and the SEA or have otherwise been negotiated thereunder. Consequently, the CSDE considers this matter closed.”

“The CSDE’s ruling validates what has been clear from the start, which is that the SEA’s complaint had no merit,” said Hyman. “This outcome confirms that these were professional disagreements, not ethical violations, and we hope the SEA President now understands the difference between the two.”

In its ruling the CSDE further clarified that the SEA’s allegations amounted to district-level disagreements, not ethical breaches:

“On their face, the allegations upon which Mr. Corcoran predicated his June 9, 2025, letter on behalf of the SEA appear to constitute such district-level disagreements rather than violations of the Code,” the Department stated. “As such, the apparent crux of these allegations is that the SEA does not agree with the Superintendent’s exercise of her ‘executive authority over the school system’ and the discharge of her ‘responsibility for its supervision.’”

Regarding the matter of the high school schedule, the CSDE reaffirmed that no code violations occurred and that the Board acted within its contractual authority based on the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with, and ratified by, the SEA:

“Mr. Corcoran’s citation to the high school scheduling disagreement ignores the fact there have been a succession of collective bargaining agreements between the Stamford Board and the SEA which provide in relevant part” that “the Board has and will continue to retain, whether exercised or not, the sole and unquestioned right, responsibility and prerogative to direct the operation of the public schools in the City of Stamford…”

The Department also dismissed the notion that the SEA has any legal standing on which to object to the high school schedule:

“...under the plain and unambiguous language of these collective bargaining agreements to which the SEA agreed, the Board had the right to make this determination. Furthermore, despite this language, in his July 25, 2025, response to the SEA’s June 9 letter, Mr. Hyman stated that the Board negotiated the impact of these changes pursuant to Connecticut’s labor laws. Thus, there having been no subsequent claim, much less showing, by the SEA that this is not true, it would seem as if the SEA had no recourse to the Connecticut Department of Labor much less to the CSDE. In short, with respect to the change in the high school schedule, there is no basis for the June 9, 2025, assertion that the Superintendent acted in any manner that violated the Code.”

“While professional disagreements are to be expected, Mr. Corcoran’s continued public efforts to discredit the Superintendent and the elected Board have been counterproductive, serving no other purpose than to waste time and taxpayer resources while undermining the SEA’s relationship with the BOE and District,” said Hyman. “We hope that Mr. Corcoran can finally set aside his personal animosities and find a way to work productively with the BOE and District on matters of importance to teachers, students, families, and Stamford’s taxpayers.”

Read the full text of the CSDE’s ruling here.

BOE
SEA
Superintendent

Superintendent's Weekly Message - October 31, 2025

Jennifer Gonzalez

Oct 31 2025 4:30 PM

Dear SPS Families and Staff:

On Tuesday night, attendees at the October Board of Education Regular Meeting enjoyed a preview of this year’s All-School Musical, Annie. Now in its 18th year, the All-School Musical is an after school musical theatre program open to Stamford resident students. This year’s musical features 87 students in grades 5-12, including 80 Stamford Public Schools students!

The All-School Musical is a full-scale, professional-level musical under the guidance of theater professionals, educators, and dedicated volunteers. We’re especially proud that the Sound Designer/Engineer for this year’s production is 2012 AITE graduate Daniel Bria. Daniel was most recently a member of the audio production team for the Broadway production of Come From Away and has also worked on the national tours for Miss Saigon and The School of Rock as well as numerous off-Broadway and regional productions.

Annie opens on Saturday, December 6 and runs through Sunday, December 14. All performances are at Rippowam. Tickets are on sale now.

High School Information Night is November 5

Families of current 8th grade students should join us for High School Information Night on Wednesday, November 5 at 6 pm via Zoom (Webinar ID: 82961448619). During this webinar, which will be offered with simultaneous Spanish interpretation, families will learn about the specialized academic programs that enroll students from throughout Stamford, many of which require students to apply during 8th grade.

In addition to the specialized academic programs, webinar attendees will learn about the dozens of Advanced Placement (AP) and UCONN Early College Experience (ECE) courses offered in our high schools, as well as about the career pathways programs at Stamford High and Westhill that prepare students for in-demand professions including public safety, construction management, information technology, and education.

Scofield Magnet Middle School Info Sessions: November 6

Parents/guardians interested in applying for their child to attend Scofield Magnet Middle School beginning in 2026-27 should plan to attend one of the in-person information sessions on Thursday, November 6 at 10 am and 6 pm. During the information session, you will hear a brief presentation from school administrators, tour the building, and have a chance to ask questions.

Every SPS Magnet School is hosting in-person information sessions this fall; click here for the schedule.

Stamford High’s Production of All in the Timing Opens November 7

Stamford High School’s Strawberry Hill Players will present All in the Timing—a collection of one-act comedic plays by American playwright David Ives—on November 7, 8, 14 & 15 at 7:30 pm in the Stamford High School Auditorium. Our student productions are a wonderful way to support the arts while enjoying a great night of theater. Click here to purchase tickets.

Meeting for Families of Students with Special Needs is November 12

Books Across Stamford Event is Tomorrow

The Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) will host its annual Books Across Stamford – Haunted Halloween event on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm at the Ferguson Library Main Branch. Families of children in PreK-5 are invited to join SPEF for some Halloween fun, including treats, crafts, and special guest readers. Children will also get to take home a free book for their home library.

National School Psychology Week Begins November 3

National School Psychology Week (NSPW) is an annual opportunity to recognize school psychologists' work to help children thrive in school, at home, and in life. This year’s NSPW theme is "Finding Your Path," reflecting the many ways in which school psychologists help students set and achieve their goals. On behalf of everyone in Stamford Public Schools, I’d like to say thank you to our school psychologists for supporting our students’ social-emotional development.

No School for Students on Tuesday

There is no school for students on Tuesday, November 4 due to Election Day.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent

Espanol

Creole

High School Information Night for 8th Grade Families is Wednesday, November 5 via Zoom

Kim Kempton

Oct 28 2025 2:53 PM

Parents of 8th graders and 8th grade Students are invited to join our High School Information Night on Wednesday, November 5 at 6 pm. This interactive Zoom session will explore the specialized schools and academic programs that enroll students from across Stamford, many of which require an application during 8th grade, including:

The Academy of Information, Technology & Engineering
Early College Studies at Stamford High
International Baccalaureate Programme at Stamford High
High School of Business at Stamford High
Stamford Regional Agriscience Program at Westhill High
Academy of Finance at Westhill High
J.R.O.T.C. Program at Westhill High
Career Pathways at Stamford High and Westhill High
SPS Anchor

Plus, we welcome special guests from our community partners at:

J.M. Wright Technical High School
Stamford Big Picture Learning Charter High School

Please join us via Zoom.

This event will be presented with simultaneous Spanish interpretation.

SPEF Books Across America is this Saturday, November 1

Kim Kempton

Oct 27 2025 12:44 PM

Our Community Partners at Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) invites all to attend their annual Books Across Stamford!

SPEF is hosting its annual Books Across Stamford – Haunted Halloween event on Saturday, November 1 from 1pm to 4pm at the Ferguson Library Main Branch.

Families are invited to join SPEF for some Halloween fun, including treats, crafts, and special guest readers, and to take home free books for children.

This FREE event is intended for children in PreK through Grade 5. Families are encouraged to take part in this celebration of literacy and creativity where they can pick up a free book for their child's home library.