News & Updates

The Stamford Board of Education is partnering with Zeal Education Group in the search for the next Superintendent of Schools. In addition to numerous in-person and virtual input meetings for parents, staff, students, and the community, you may also share your input online via ThoughtExchange. 

ThoughtExchange is a way for everyone to share their views honestly and anonymously, and to rate the thoughts of others in the community. The survey is available in dozens of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Ukrainian, and more. 

As you participate in ThoughtExchange, it's important to understand:

• ThoughtExchange is anonymous. 
• The input you provide will be recorded anonymously exactly as you entered it.
• Your anonymous responses may be shared with other participants.  

Information gathered through ThoughtExchange will be used to create a Leadership Profile that will guide the recruitment and selection of the next Superintendent. 

Thank you for your participation. 

Stamford Board of Education 

 

Dear SPS Community,

As 2025 draws to a close, we would like to thank our teachers, administrators, staff, and families for their continued commitment to Stamford Public Schools. We are deeply grateful to our educators and staff for their dedication to our students and to ensuring every child has access to an education that cultivates productive habits of mind, body, and heart. To our families, thank you for entrusting Stamford Public Schools with your children and for being strong partners in their education.

The new year will bring an important transition as we prepare to recruit, hire, and onboard the next Superintendent of Schools. In January, Zeal Education Group will conduct a series of in-person and virtual meetings with staff, families, students, community partners, union leaders, Board of Education members, and the community-at-large. Feedback gathered through this process will be used to develop a leadership profile to guide the Superintendent search. The opportunities for feedback will take place between January 12 and January 23. Please see here for a letter from Zeal Education Group with additional details.

January also marks the beginning of budget season in Stamford. Dr. Lucero and her team are finalizing the Superintendent’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2027. The Superintendent’s Proposed Budget will be presented to the BOE and discussed at a series of BOE meetings beginning Tuesday, January 13. We will share more information about the proposed budget and opportunities for engagement in the weeks ahead.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. Agendas and supporting materials are posted online at least 24 hours in advance of each meeting.

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for being part of the Stamford Public Schools community. We wish you and your loved ones a restful winter break and a happy, healthy New Year.

 

Sincerely,

Andy George
President, Stamford Board of Education

 

Dear SPS Community,

I am writing to you today as the newly elected president of the Stamford Board of Education (BOE). For those of you who may not know me, I am a long-time Stamford resident and currently the longest-tenured member of the BOE, having first been elected in November 2015.

My wife, Amy, and I have lived in Stamford for nearly 40 years, and our three children attended Stamford Public Schools K-12. In addition to my service on the BOE, I have been an active member of the community as a past member of the Stamford High School Governance Council, a volunteer with Junior Achievement, a past producer of the Stamford All-School Musical, and more than a decade of service with the Stamford Youth Soccer League. Amy and I love Stamford, and we believe that Stamford Public Schools provided our children with a strong foundation from which they went on to become successful adults.

Ensuring that all children have the same opportunities to succeed in Stamford Public Schools that my children did is why I first ran for the BOE and why I am excited to lead the Board as we recruit and hire the next Superintendent of Schools. As we announced last week, the BOE has engaged Zeal Education Group to support this effort. During Tuesday night’s special BOE meeting, I announced the creation of a Personnel Search Committee. This will be a “committee of the whole” and will include all nine BOE members.

The Personnel Search Committee will include a Community Outreach Subcommittee to ensure all voices are heard during the superintendent search, and a Contract and Compensation Subcommittee that will develop the framework for the compensation package that will be offered to the final candidate. I will serve on both subcommittees along with the following members:

• Community Outreach: Dr. Werely (Chair), Mrs. Better-Wirz, Ms. Foy, and Ms. Koc
• Contract & Compensation: Mr. O’Brien (Chair), Dr. Hamman, Mr. Tunga, and Mr. Vandervoort

This Saturday, the Community Outreach Subcommittee will meet with Zeal Education Group to begin planning how our students, families, teachers, administrators, staff members, and the community at large will be able to participate in the superintendent search. More information about this process— which will include listening sessions, surveys, and focus groups—will be shared no later than the next BOE meeting on Tuesday, December 16.

In closing, I want to express my commitment to keeping the lines of communication open to our students, families, teachers, administrators, staff, and community members. To that end, I will be writing to you periodically with updates on BOE activities, and I urge you to watch or attend BOE meetings to learn more about our work. You may also email the entire board at BOEMembers@stamfordpublicschools.org or reach out to me directly at ageorge@stamfordpublicschools.org. 

 

Sincerely,

Andy George
President, Stamford Board of Education

 

The Stamford Board of Education (BOE) has selected national consulting firm Zeal Education Group to support the BOE in identifying and hiring the next Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools. This selection was the culmination of a rigorous, multi-step review process led by the Board’s ad hoc Superintendent Search Firm Committee (SFC).

“The Board extends its sincere thanks to the ad hoc Committee for its leadership and for establishing a strong foundation of unity and solidarity throughout this process,” said BOE President Michael Hyman. “As the ad hoc phase of this search closes tonight, we share the Board’s deepest appreciation and gratitude for each member’s contribution.” 

The SFC received proposals from eight search firms in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that was released in mid-September. Working collaboratively, committee members developed and applied a comprehensive evaluation rubric to review written submissions, assess presentations, and rate interviews with each prospective firm. The process ensured a consistent and transparent comparison of each firm’s qualifications, approach, and alignment with Stamford’s values and goals.

Why the Committee Recommended Zeal Education Group

Zeal Education Group emerged as the committee’s unanimous choice for its intensive community engagement model, innovative search design, and strong record of supporting districts through leadership transitions.

“The entire committee was impressed by Zeal’s depth of experience and the way their process centers community voice,” said Versha Munshi-South, Board Vice President and Chair of the Superintendent Search Firm Committee. “Zeal’s use of multilingual tools and creative engagement strategies ensures that every Stamford resident, regardless of language or background, can help shape the vision for our next superintendent.”

“Our search team is eager to begin supporting Stamford Public Schools in their search for an exemplary leader,” said Jeff Melendez, Ed.D., Founder & CEO, Zeal Education Group. “We look forward to engaging the Stamford community throughout this partnership.”

The SFC’s recommendation was based on key strengths noted in Zeal’s proposal:

• Inclusive Engagement: Zeal’s use of ThoughtExchange, a multilingual platform that gathers ideas and feedback in over 100 languages, will ensure authentic participation from Stamford’s diverse community.

• Comprehensive, Transparent Process: Zeal’s 12-step search model emphasizes stakeholder input, data-informed decision-making, and open communication throughout the process.

• Long-Term Support: Beyond recruitment, Zeal offers governance training for the Board and executive coaching for the incoming superintendent to ensure a successful transition.

Next Steps in the Superintendent Search

The BOE anticipates beginning its work with Zeal Education Group in December and launching the community engagement phase of the superintendent search in January 2026. As part of its contract, Zeal will facilitate listening sessions, surveys, and focus groups with students, families, educators, staff, and community members to gather input that will shape a Superintendent Leadership Profile reflecting Stamford’s shared values and priorities. 

To maintain momentum and focus on the superintendent search during the transition to the next BOE, including the election of officers and assignments to committees, President Hyman has designated Andy George as the primary contact for the Zeal engagement, effective immediately. Mr. George is the Board’s longest-serving member and is the only current member to have served on the Board during other superintendent searches. 

Mayor Caroline Simmons has also expressed her enthusiasm and will actively participate in the next phase of the search for Stamford’s next educational leader. The Board is pleased to announce that Mayor Simmons will serve on the Personnel Search Committee in her role as a non-voting member of the BOE. Having the city’s chief executive in a central role strengthens the partnership between the City and the District from the outset and supports the best interests of the entire Stamford community.

The Board expects to begin candidate interviews in early 2026 with the goal of having a new superintendent in place on July 1, 2026. 

What Committee Members are Saying about Zeal

“I was encouraged by Zeal’s commitment to focus on SPS current needs in our search for the next superintendent.”—Jennienne Burke, Former BOE President

“I am pleased to partner with Zeal, whose work reflects a deep understanding that effective leadership begins with listening. Their comprehensive approach engages our community and supports our Board as we prepare to welcome the next superintendent with a strong and unified foundation”—Julienne Foy, BOE Member

“This is a crucial time for Stamford Public Schools. Zeal will engage all interested stakeholders (January-February), search for superintendent candidates (February-April), and work with the Board to conduct interviews and help a finalist take the helm (April-June). Zeal also follows up with the District for one year. Teaching and learning matters deeply to Stamford and Zeal understands this.”—Dr. Rebecca Hamman, BOE Member

“I was impressed by Zeal’s disciplined approach to the search process as well as their commitment to transparency. Selecting a superintendent of schools who can build on Stamford’s strengths while facing our challenges head-on will be critical to the future of Stamford Public Schools, and I am confident that Zeal is the right partner for this process.”—Duane E. Hill, Partner at TSG Ventures, LP

“Zeal’s commitment to engaging educators, staff, families and the BOE  will help us select a superintendent who can provide stable, student-centered learning and leadership and partner effectively with those who work in our schools and care about our schools every day.”—Eileen Swerdlick , retired educator and district administrator

About the Ad Hoc Superintendent Search Firm Committee

The Superintendent Search Firm Committee was chaired by Ms. Munshi-South and included current BOE members Julienne Foy and Dr. Rebecca Hamman, along with community representatives Jennienne Burke, Joshua Essess, Duane E. Hill, Eileen Swerdlick, and Edith Targonski. BOE President Michael Hyman served as an ex-officio member.

The committee collaborated with Stamford Public Schools’ Chief Financial Officer Ryan Fealey to design the RFP process, develop the evaluation rubric, and oversee firm interviews and scoring.

About Zeal Education Group

Zeal Education Group is a national consulting firm specializing in superintendent searches, leadership development, and strategic planning for school systems. With a team of more than 100 education leaders, Zeal Education Group provides concierge-level support, stakeholder engagement expertise, and executive coaching to help districts achieve sustainable success. Learn more at www.zeal-ed.com.

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The Stamford Board of Education (BOE) has taken the next step in its search for a new Superintendent of Schools. As part of a process designed to ensure transparency and community engagement, the BOE has established an ad hoc committee to identify an executive search firm to support the recruitment and selection of the district’s next leader.

BOE President Michael Hyman announced the appointments of the following Board members to the ad-hoc committee: BOE Vice President Versha Munshi-South will serve as Chairperson of the ad hoc committee and will be joined by Teaching & Learning Committee chair Julienne Foy and Dr. Rebecca Hamman. The committee also will include the following distinguished community members:

• Jennienne Burke, former BOE President
• Joshua Essess, former BOE Member
• Duane E. Hill, Partner Emeritus at TSG Capital Group LLC
• Eileen Swerdlick, retired SPS educator and district administrator
• Edith Targonski, Editor-in-Chief of Latin Colors Magazine

President Hyman will serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.

The committee will develop a Request for Proposals (RFP), which will be issued in mid to late September. The RFP will invite qualified executive search firms to submit proposals for managing the search process. The committee will review submissions, interview firms, and recommend a finalist to the full Board of Education, with a vote anticipated no later than the Board’s November 2025 regular meeting.

“Our community deserves an inclusive, transparent, and rigorous process to identify the next leader of our school district,” said Chairperson Munshi-South. “Securing the right search firm is a crucial first step to ensuring that the voices of students, families, educators, and community members are front and center.”

The selected executive search firm will be responsible for facilitating community engagement, developing a leadership profile, advertising the position, recruiting candidates, managing communications, and coordinating interviews with the Board and stakeholders.

“The Board is committed to ensuring an open, collaborative, and community-driven Superintendent search,” said President Hyman. “We look forward to working together with families, students, staff, and Stamford residents during this important transition.”

Chairperson Munshi-South and her fellow committee members will provide an update on the RFP process at the Board’s regular monthly meeting on September 30, 2025.