Superintendent Lucero Will Not Seek Contract Extension 

• Intends to fulfill final year of contract ending on June 30, 2026

• Will lead PreK-12 international school beginning July 2026  

Today, Dr. Tamu Lucero informed the Stamford Board of Education (BOE) that she will not seek an extension of her current contract with the Board, which ends on June 30, 2026. Dr. Lucero also shared that she was recently recruited for, and has accepted, an offer to serve as the director and head of school at a private, PreK-12 international school in Africa effective July 1, 2026.

“Serving as Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Lucero. “Throughout my time in Stamford, I have built strong connections across the community — visiting all 22 of our schools on a regular basis, supporting local organizations, attending hundreds of events each year, and engaging with thousands of students, staff, families, and community members. These relationships have shaped my work and given me a deep sense of belonging here in Stamford, which is why I am committed to staying with SPS through June 2026 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.”

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Lucero for 11 years as a State Representative and now as Mayor,” said Stamford Mayor, Caroline Simmons. “I have witnessed firsthand her passion for education, her deep commitment to strengthening Stamford Public Schools, and her dedication to the Stamford community. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Lucero over the next year on the issues that matter most to our students and families, and will provide whatever support I can to the Board of Education as they seek to find our next superintendent to build on the strong foundation she has helped create."

“During my 16 years in Hartford as a State Representative and State Senator, I have worked to address the educational opportunity gap in Connecticut to ensure all students have the resources and support they need to succeed,” said State Senator Pat Billie Miller. “Dr. Lucero shares this vision and has been a true partner to me and my colleagues in the State Delegation. She has been an integral part of the delegation's efforts to bring crucially needed funding back to Stamford for new school construction and services for students with special education needs. She has also helped advocate for important legislation, including the Science of Reading. The positive impact of her work on behalf of Stamford’s students and families will be felt long after she leaves the district.”

Dr. Lucero is an active member of the Stamford community, serving on the boards of numerous organizations including the Ferguson Library, SoundWaters, the Avon Theater, Diocesan Pastoral Council, Building One Community, Horizons at New Canaan Country School, and Children’s Learning Centers Leadership Council. She previously served on the boards of Stamford Cradle to Career and the Bartlett Arboretum. Dr. Lucero is a tri-chair of the Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendents (CAUS), a board member of Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School, a member of the Connecticut State Department of Education Superintendent Advisory Panel, and serves on the State of Connecticut's 13-member Reading Leadership Implementation Council. Dr. Lucero is also an Adjunct Professor at both Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University.  

Dr. Lucero joined SPS in June 2013 as Assistant Superintendent, Elementary and was unanimously appointed Superintendent in April 2019. She is the longest-serving SPS Superintendent since Dr. William Papallo (1983 to 1992).  

As Superintendent, Dr. Lucero has led system-wide improvements aligned with the five pillars of the 2022–2027 Strategic Plan: (1) Strong Curriculum, (2) Student-Centered, (3) Community-Focused, (4) Culture of Inclusion, and (5) Operational Excellence.

• Launched the first comprehensive curriculum audit in over 20 years (2021–22), followed by a three-year initiative (2022–25) to design and implement gold-standard PreK–12 curricula across all content areas.
• Initiated an Instructional Leadership & Development Program to ensure all building administrators are equipped to support teachers in delivering rigorous, Tier 1 instruction to every student.
• Restructured Teaching & Learning, aligning all teams with responsibility for curriculum, instruction, and assessment — including Elementary Humanities, Elementary STEM, Secondary Humanities, Secondary STEM, Multilingual Learners, Special Education, and Summer School — under a Chief Academic Officer. 
• Strengthened district safety and security by establishing a director of security position to coordinate all safety and security initiatives, expanded School Resource Officers to the middle schools, expanded use of security personnel in all K–12 schools, and supported facilities improvements including fortified entrances and the Raptor VisitorSafe system.
• Partnered with the City of Stamford to develop a Long-Term Facilities Plan to upgrade or replace the district’s aging school buildings.
• Worked with the City of Stamford and the Stamford Delegation to secure historic construction reimbursements from the State, including 80% for the new Westhill High School and 60% for the new Roxbury K–8 and Cove-area K–8 campuses.
• Opened the SPS Welcome Center at Cloonan Middle School to support families with registration, health appointments, technology access, and community resources.
• Implemented a comprehensive Master Staffing Plan to ensure that (1) every school has the resources necessary to support students; (2) staffing in each building is based on the same criteria, including projected enrollment and contractual requirements, and (3) staffing is equitable with all schools at each level having the same types of supports  
• Implemented 1:1 devices for all students and staff, and developed a Master Technology Plan to improve systems for instructional and operational efficiency.
• Partnered with the Stamford Education Association and Stamford Administrative Unit to create a new Professional Growth, Development, and Evaluation Plan for educators.
• In response to loss of COVID-era federal grant funding and the rapidly increasing cost of special education services, student transportation, and employee benefits, worked with the Board of Education to secure the largest annual SPS operating budget increases in more than 15 years in FY25 and FY26.
• Expanded support for Multilingual Learners and Bilingual Families by adding bilingual parent facilitators districtwide; providing enhanced translation of print/online content; providing simultaneous interpretation at district wide meetings; and launching Café con la Super, a monthly Spanish-language family meeting.
• Expanded services for students with disabilities by increasing the number of in-district specialized classrooms from 30 in 2018-19 to more than 50 in 2024-25, providing opportunities for more students with moderate to severe disabilities to remain in-district. 
• Supported creation of a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Program at Stamford High School and Westhill High School, offering training in high-demand career fields, including education, advanced manufacturing, construction management, and public safety.
• Maintained a fiscally responsible central office, with annual spending on central office 50% below the state average.

The BOE is responsible for recruiting, selecting, and hiring the Superintendent of Schools. More information about that process will be available in the coming weeks.  

Click here to read Dr. Lucero's message to the school community.

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