Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Dear SPS Community: 

With the first day of school less than three weeks away, I wanted to take a moment to provide a quick update on all that has been happening across Stamford Public Schools this summer.

Since joining the district on July 1, I have been focused on getting to know Stamford Public Schools and the people who make it such a special place. I have met with every school principal, each member of the Board of Education, Mayor Simmons, the City’s Office of Operations, and our public safety partners, including Police, Fire, EMS, and the Director of Public Safety, to better understand the district and the partnerships that support our schools. I also began connecting with many of the community organizations that provide support to our students and their families.

I am grateful for the warm welcome that I have received and look forward to continuing to build these relationships in the months ahead. When school begins, I also will be hosting a series of parent meetings across the district so I can get to know our families and hear directly from them.

While I have been getting to know the district, our staff has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming school year. Although many people think of summer as a quiet time in education, it is actually one of our busiest seasons. Consider the following: 

• Our human resources team and school leaders have been working to ensure every classroom is staffed with highly-qualified educators. I am pleased to share that we have already filled 98 percent of the certified educator positions budgeted for the coming school year. Like school districts across Connecticut and throughout the country, we continue to recruit for a small number of hard-to-fill positions, particularly in special education, school psychology, and related services.
• The Teaching and Learning Department has been working with teachers to update curriculum across K-12 and also preparing the instructional materials, technology, and professional learning resources needed for a successful year. Teaching and Learning also managed the Summer Success Program for students who required academic support or credit recovery as well as students with disabilities who receive extended school year services. 
• The City's Office of School Construction and the SPS Facilities and Maintenance Department have been busy making improvements to many school buildings. School buildings across the district are receiving a variety of improvements including new security cameras, solar panels, upgraded entry doors, new roofs, and new HVAC systems. In addition, all schools will be deep cleaned before teachers report to school the week of August 17. 

During the next couple of weeks, school administrators and office staff will be finalizing elementary classroom assignments and secondary school student schedules. Classroom assignments and student schedules will be available in PowerSchool beginning on August 20.  

I will continue to use this space to share updates about what is happening across Stamford Public Schools, celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff, and keep you informed about important district initiatives and upcoming events. Please scroll down for additional news and updates. 

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being an important part of the Stamford Public Schools community. 

Sincerely, 

Adrian B. Talley, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools