Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Dear SPS Community: 

Congratulations to eighth grade mathematics teacher Marcella Barrios from Rogers International School, who was recently named the 2026-27 SPS Teacher of the Year!  Marcella was selected from among 31 exceptional individuals and teams nominated by their peers. The 2026-27 Teacher of the Year Cohort also includes Siobhan Kilcoyne Collins (Rogers International), Daniel Lauture (Stamford High), Martha Mavridis (Turn of River), and Gladymarie Rivera (Westover). 

In addition to the Teacher of the Year Cohort, the selection committee recognized 26 teachers for Spotlight on Teaching Awards.

I also want to congratulate Mery Lopez, of Hart Magnet School, for being named our 2026-27 Paraeducator of the Year. Mery has been an unwavering champion for our students during her 21 years with SPS. The selection committee also recognized this year’s Paraeducator of the Year Finalists: Mary Kilibwa-Adams (Westover Magnet) and Gabrielle Cormier (APPLES PreK).

Congratulations to Marcella, Mery, and all of this year’s honorees! 

Last Chance to See Cinderella! 

This is the final weekend to see the Stamford High Strawberry Hill Players in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella! Join us at Rippowam Middle School for one of the final three performances: 

• Friday, May 1: 7:30 pm 
• Saturday, May 2: 2 pm and 7:30 pm 

Tickets are $22.52 for adults and $17.32 for students and seniors. Don’t miss this delightful musical theatre production featuring our talented students!   

Stamford Agriscience Spring Plant Sale: May 2 and May 9

Stamford Regional FFA at Westhill is hosting its annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 2 and Saturday, May 9 from 10 am to 3 pm in the AgriScience Building on the Westhill campus. This is a great chance to stock up on flowers (annuals/perennials) and vegetables for your home garden. Students in the AgriScience Program organize and staff the plant sale and will give tours to those who want to learn more about this rigorous high school program. Proceeds from the sale support the AgriScience Program. Follow Stamford FFA on Instagram for more details.

24 Students are Certified Nursing Assistants! 

Congratulations to 24 Westhill High School seniors who received their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) designation during a ceremony on April 28. The ceremony honored the inaugural cohort of the CNA Program, which is the newest SPS Career Pathways offering. CNA is offered through a partnership between SPS and Excel Academy.  

Thank you to Westhill teacher Camille M. Quattrocchi, the District Content Leader for Health & Physical Education, for her work leading the CNA Program this year. 

SPS Students Excel in Ferguson Library Literary Competition

We’re excited to share that 48 SPS students were recognized for their work in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry writing in the 41st Annual Friends of the Ferguson Library Literary Competition. Students from AITE, Davenport Ridge, Hart, Northeast, Rogers International, Roxbury, Scofield Magnet, Stamford High, Strawberry Hill, and Westhill were recognized this year. 

I would like to give a special Shout Out to Strawberry Hill School, which had 24 winning entries across grades 3-8 in all three categories! 

Kindergarten Registration Event: May 9 

The Office of Family & Community Engagement is hosting a Kindergarten Registration Event on Saturday, May 9 from 10 am to 1 pm at the SPS Welcome Center. Language support will be available for Spanish and Haitian-Creole speakers. For more information about registration, click here or email OFCE@stamfordps.org. 

Teacher Appreciation Week and School Nurse Day 

As we prepare to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the nearly 1,500 certified educators who work for Stamford Public Schools. Your dedication and commitment to your students, your peers, and your profession is recognized and appreciated throughout the entire year.  

I’d also like to remind everyone that Wednesday, May 6 is National School Nurse Day. This is a day to recognize school nurses for their contributions to student health, safety, and academic success. The City of Stamford employs 37 full time and 4 substitute nurses who together provide care to students at 33 public, independent, and religious schools, including all SPS sites.  

 

Stay Safe and Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent of Schools

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