Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Dear SPS Community:

Thank you to everyone who has already completed the annual Stamford Public Schools Climate Survey. We’ve received nearly 6,000 responses to the family survey while more than 2,000 employees have completed the teacher and staff surveys.  

Families can access the survey in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Ukrainian. The deadline for all SPS families, students, teachers and staff to complete the Climate Survey is next Friday, March 27. 

Budget Update

On Monday night, Ryan Fealey and I presented the Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed FY27 operating budget to the Board of Finance (BOF) and the Fiscal Committee of the Board of Representatives (BOR). I’d like to thank BOF Chairperson Mary Lou Rinaldi, BOF Fiscal Committee Co-Chair, Eric Morson, and all of the BOF and BOR members for their time and thoughtful consideration of the BOE’s budget request. If you missed it, you can watch a recording here. 

To learn more about the proposed budget, please refer to the FY27 Community Budget Guide (English / Spanish) and Budget Fact Sheet (English / Spanish).  

Strawberry Hill’s Pioneer Players Present: Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical

The Pioneer Players at Strawberry Hill School are kicking off the SPS spring musical season with Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical, a whimsical and energetic stage production inspired by classic characters and imaginative storytelling.

Performances are Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm and Saturday, March 28 at 2 pm in the Strawberry Hill Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the door using cash or Venmo (adults $20, students $10, children under 4 are free). 

Dorothy in Wonderland is sure to delight audiences of all ages, and we encourage families from across the district to come out and support this production! 

Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry in Stamford on Saturday

The Filling in the Blanks Fresh Food on the Move Mobile Food Pantry will be at St. Mary Parish (566 Elm Street) on Saturday, March 21 from 6:30 to 9 am. The mobile food pantry is first come, first served, and there is no cost for the food provided. Please bring any form of ID to register. In addition to the fresh, free food, there will be doctors on site, housing providers, Building One Community advocates, and more. 

Stamford High’s Dan Lauture Named CT EdRising Teacher of the Year

On Tuesday, I had the honor of attending the Connecticut Educators Rising 2026 Conference at Southern Connecticut State University where Stamford High’s Dan Lauture was honored as the CT EdRising Teacher of the Year.  

Mr. Lauture leads the SPS EdRising Program at Stamford High School. Through EdRising, high school students can participate in a career pathway program to support their interest in becoming teachers. Ideally, these “home grown” educators will return to the communities where they went to school. The EdRising program was introduced in Stamford during the 2019-20 school year. In August 2025, we were thrilled to welcome back two alumni from the first EdRising cohort who had joined SPS as first-year teachers. Congratulations, Dan and the SHS EdRising students!

Incoming 9th Grade Parent Night at Westhill is March 25 

If you have a child entering 9th grade at Westhill in August, please join Principal Rinaldi on Wednesday, March 25 from 6:30 to 7:45 pm for parent night. The event will begin in the main auditorium with a brief presentation, followed by optional guided school tours led by the Westhill JROTC cadets. 

AITE will host parent night for incoming 9th graders on Thursday, April 30 from 6 to 7:30 pm. Stamford High School will host parent night for incoming 9th graders in May on a date to be determined. 

Schools Closings & Early Dismissals 

All schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, March 20, for Eid-al-Fitr. Next Wednesday, March 25, is an early release day for students for staff professional development. 

 

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent of Schools

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