Stamford Superintendent Will Not Seek Contract Extension, To Leave District

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero will not seek a contract extension and will leave the school district at the conclusion of her current deal, SPS announced on Monday afternoon.

Lucero, who notified the Stamford Board of Education about her plans on Monday, 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.

Her current contract with SPS expires on June 30, 2026.

"Serving as Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools has been the most rewarding experience of my career," said Lucero in a prepared statement from SPS. "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."

Lucero's career in education began in the Columbus (Ohio) Public School District as a third, fourth, and fifth-grade teacher at Franklinton Alternative Elementary School.

She was also principal of Worthington Hills Elementary in the Worthington School District, Georgian Heights Alternative School and Windsor Alternative Elementary School - all in Ohio.

Lucero began her SPS tenure in June 2013 as assistant superintendent - elementary. She was named the superintendent of SPS on April 23, 2019. She is the longest-serving SPS superintendent since Dr. William Papallo (1983 to 1992).

Lucero is closing out the second year of a three-year contract. Last October, the Stamford Board of Education was unable to come to an agreement on an extension for Lucero, and a vote has not been held since.

In recent years, BOE members cited concerns with teacher morale and votes of no confidence against Lucero, as well as a perceived decline in educational standards around the district.

Last month, a vote of no confidence in Lucero was issued by tenured staff at Roxbury Elementary School.

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In her announcement, Lucero highlighted several accomplishments she achieved during her tenure, such as launching the first comprehensive curriculum audit in over 20 years, strengthening district safety and security, initiating an instructional leadership and development program, expanding support for multilingual learners and bilingual families, expanding services for students with disabilities, and implementing a comprehensive master staffing plan, among other efforts.

Most recently, Lucero helped launch the SPS Welcome Center, and worked with Stamford's delegation to Hartford on securing construction reimbursements from the state for the new Westhill High School and new Roxbury and Cove-area campuses.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons praised Lucero's work over the years.

"I have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Lucero for 11 years as a State Representative and now as Mayor," Simmons said in a prepared statement from SPS. "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."

State Sen. Pat Billie Miller (D-27) also commented on Lucero's impending departure.

"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," Miller said in a prepared statement from SPS.

Miller called Lucero "an integral part" of the delegation's efforts to bring funding to Stamford for new school construction.

"She has also helped advocate for important legislation, including the Science of Reading," Miller added. "The positive impact of her work on behalf of Stamford’s students and families will be felt long after she leaves the district."

Along with leading the school district, Lucero has also been active in the 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 is also an Adjunct Professor at both Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University.

Lucero is set to earn a base salary of around $319,000 in her final year as superintendent, which is actually higher when factoring in contributions and fringe benefits.

Lucero also issued a letter to the school community, which can be viewed here.

The Stamford BOE is now responsible for recruiting, selecting, and hiring the next superintendent

SPS said more information about the search process will be available in the coming weeks.