Dr. Rebecca Hamman (R)

Stamford Board of Education

Republican
Stamford Board of Education 2020-present, K-12 Teacher & Administrator, College and Career Coordinator
203-752-6061

My educational expertise (2 masters + doctorate), rich experience (12-year teacher + 14-year administrator), and training/certification as a superintendent help the Board of Education think differently when making decisions.

I am also a servant leader, not a bureaucrat. I believe Stamford Public Schools can create a culture of excellence in all 23 schools. The BOE is accountable to all students, families, and taxpayers. Working with many constituents, my voice and insight matter. Please refer to my OpEds on Facebook (Becky Hamman BOE) or CTExaminer.com (Rebecca Hamman).
First, the BOE should prioritize student learning (5000 series). There continues to be a decline in achievement scores as well as achievement gaps. Only 5 out of 23 schools show achievement increases over an 11-year period. Approximately 30% of our graduates can only pass one or two components of the SAT. The BOE refuses to review and assess these policies. Steps to improve include creating and implementing grade level skills tests (Gr. 3-12), summative assessments and using mid-terms & finals to determine achievement growth. SPS can do better!

Second, the BOE needs to consistently practice due diligence (9000 series). Although we set policies for the district and hire/supervise the superintendent, the majority of the BOE uses political power to control decision-making. Steps to improve means maintaining healthy discourse, listening to each other and making decisions for kids, not adults. The public, too, needs to expect accountability and results. Mediocrity is not acceptable.
With 94.7% going to wages & benefits, special education, transportation and facilities, this means that SPS only has about 5.3% to spend on initiatives (textbooks/workbooks, professional development, instructional technology, internet, software, supplies, athletic equipment, telephone, copiers, postage, furniture, insurance, dues & fees).

1.Educators and the BOE should be laser focused on improving learning. Knowing this, each year’s initiatives in curriculum, Instruction and assessment should take priority. All budgets should be aligned to support these initiatives.

2.This district’s challenge is systemic leadership (i.e. curriculum incorrectly ordered, professional development poorly planned, teachers resigning right before school starts, new school construction budgets exploding, policies not consistently followed, ongoing lateral moves & title changes, etc.). Systems are broken and this pattern has been allowed for five years. The BOE continues to ignore these warning signs.

3.Poor system management means department budgets are not aligned. The BOE should consider auditing the Stamford Public School and non-profit budgets (SPEF & C2C). They need to ask deeper questions to get to the root of the problem…Why is student performance decreasing as spending rises?; Why is an inordinate amount of money going into special education?; Why are student scores still declining with new curriculums?; Why are administrators not held accountable for ongoing failure?
Our mantra in the Stamford Public Schools (SPS) should be ‘Achievement for All’.

The BOE needs to:
1.Listen to the teachers working with 70% of the students who struggle in the district. They do have some of the best solutions. This goes untapped by the district leaders and BOE—instead, they prefer to dictate their ideas and ignore Votes of No Confidence.

2.Interview parents who are leaving SPS. Successful and resilient students & families stay (30%), but why is SPS not the first choice for many other families? Why are we losing long-time residents?

3.Be more intentional about the superintendent’s evaluation and goals. Using a 360-Degree Feedback evaluation process would serve our 16,400+ students well (implement on a quarterly basis). Honest feedback is crucial in setting direction for the SPS.

Central office leaders should also consider additional learning options... Creating a Culture of Excellence in the Stamford Public Schools - CT Examiner:
• Special Education Resource Centers (K-12)
• Alternative Education Academies (Gr. 6-8, 9-12)
• Schoolwide Enrichment Model (Gr. 3-8)
• Smaller Learning Communities (Gr. 9-12)