Coordinator Of Access And Opportunity Named In Stamford Public Schools

STAMFORD, CT — Paola Ochoa has been appointed coordinator of access & opportunity for Stamford Public Schools, effective July 1, according to an announcement by Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero.

In her new role, Ochoa will oversee middle school alternative education and other non-traditional academic programs. She will also coordinate district-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives, support the Office of Family and Community Engagement, and manage the Bridge to College program for recent graduates.

Ochoa will report to Dr. Michael Fernandes, the district’s chief staff and family resource officer.

“For more than a decade, Paola has distinguished herself as a champion for Stamford Public Schools students and their families,” Lucero said in an announcement. “Her secondary school classroom teaching and counseling experience, strong administrative background, and strong record of community engagement and collaboration make her an ideal choice to help us expand access and opportunity for all students.”

Ochoa currently serves as the department head of school counseling at Stamford High School, where she leads a team of over 10 counselors serving more than 2,200 students in grades nine through 12. Her prior roles include assistant principal at Dolan Middle School and school counselor at Westhill High School, where she provided support for more than 200 students annually, many of whom were native Spanish speakers.

Ochoa began her career in the district in 2009 as a Spanish teacher at Dolan.

Ochoa holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a minor in adolescent education from St. John’s University, along with a master's in Spanish language and literature from the same institution. She also earned a master's in bilingual school counseling from Long Island University and a certificate in intermediate administration from the University of Bridgeport. She is certified in Grades seven to 12 Spanish, school guidance, and intermediate administration or supervision in the state of Connecticut.

The appointment follows a competitive hiring process that included two rounds of interviews with committees of educators, parents, and community members, and a final interview with Lucero, according to an announcement.

Ochoa was recognized as the 2025 Administrator of the Year by the Connecticut School Counseling Association and received a Spotlight in Education Award from SPS in 2017.