In a letter to the Stamford Public School Community, Stamford School Superintendent, Dr. Tamu Lucero announced that she will leave the district once her contract concludes in June 2026. Read the full letter, below.
Dear SPS Community:
A short time ago, I informed the Stamford Board of Education (BOE) that I will not be pursuing an extension to my contract, which concludes on June 30, 2026. As I shared with the Board of Education, I have been offered an incredible opportunity to serve as the next Director and Head of School at a private, PreK-12 international school in Africa, effective July 1, 2026. This opportunity will enable me to broaden my professional impact beyond public education while experiencing life in another part of the world. As my husband, John, approaches retirement, this presented an opportunity that we could not afford to overlook.
The international education hiring process follows a longer timeline than in U.S. public education, so my new role aligns with the conclusion of my contract with the BOE. I intend to fulfill the terms of my contract and remain with Stamford Public Schools until June 30, 2026, to support a seamless transition to the next superintendent.
With the BOE’s support, I am committed to continuing the district’s work on several important initiatives in support of this leadership transition, including:
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Completing the initial phase of the district’s comprehensive curriculum redesign in all PreK-12 content areas.
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Planning for school construction projects, including the new Westhill High School, the new Roxbury K-8 School, and the two-campus New School in Stamford’s Cove neighborhood.
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Advancing instructional leadership initiatives to ensure school administrators are providing meaningful and actionable support to our teachers.
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Supporting the ongoing implementation of the district’s professional growth, development, and evaluation plans for educators.
This decision was not made quickly or easily. As many of you know, I relocated to Stamford in June 2013 as Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education and was appointed Superintendent in April 2019. During my 12 years in Stamford, I have been deeply involved in the community, serving on numerous nonprofit boards and participating in hundreds of school and community events each year. As Superintendent, it has also been my practice to visit each of our 22 PreK-12 schools at least once a month, on average, during the school year. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to meet thousands of students, teachers, staff, parents, business owners, volunteers, community leaders, and elected officials. These interactions have informed my work as Superintendent and given me a deep sense of belonging as part of this wonderful community.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement that you have shown me over the last 12 years, and I look forward to serving as your Superintendent for one more year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tamu Lucero