Bethany Silver, Ph. D., Chief Performance Officer

(860) 695-8407
bethany.silver@hartfordschools.org

Bethany Silver, Ph.D. is an innovative educator with demonstrated success improving student performance, leveraging accountability while supporting systemic processes that enhance teaching, learning, and assessment. Dr. Silver is recognized as a leader in employing data to resolve complex challenges in educational environments and is a respected team player among faculty and administrator teams and partner organizations. Dr. Silver is committed to building collaborative cultures of trust where the leader can develop fluid intelligence in all employees, giving them the ability to confidently analyze and solve problems.

Dr. Silver returns to the Hartford Public Schools after having served in the Bloomfield Public Schools for the last nine years, most recently as Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Performance Accountability.  She led the district’s development, implementation, and evaluation of the Lead Strategic Plan; oversaw the alignment of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; created and published data dashboards, research findings and analyzed other information sources to help various audiences visualize and interpret performance data; collaborated with Central Office Leadership to design, implement, and integrate educator evaluation and accountability tools and systems; and, served as interim school leader as needed.

Prior to Dr. Silver’s experience in Bloomfield, she worked in the Hartford Public Schools for approximately eight years, serving as Executive Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Director of Research, and Assistant Director of Library Media and Technology.  In her tenure at HPS, Dr. Silver assisted in the strategic planning process with designing, implementing, and monitoring strategic plans; supported the creation of the Educational Technology Plan; developed and presented technology workshops for educators; and, participated in district-wide curriculum, instruction, and assessment revision and refinement. Alignment of curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning, and support services resulted in policy development and identification of funding priorities which led to systemic changes that improved student performance.

Dr. Silver was the Manager of Data and Assessment for two years at the Capital Region Education Council, where she participated in leadership roles for various regional initiatives, including, Assessment Data Council and Common Assessment Curriculum. Dr. Silver has developed and deployed initiatives tin local school districts to support children and communities in the Hartford region regarding assessment, curriculum, and instruction.

Besides her work in the public school district sector, Dr. Silver has taught at institutes of higher education and served as Assistant Professor for Educational Leadership at CCSU, where she collaborated with the CCSU faculty and national experts to redesign course requirements and offerings for the Master of Educational Leadership program.  Dr. Silver also was an instructor of educational psychology and psychology at University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, Naugatuck Valley Community College, and Manchester Community College.

Notably, Dr. Silver served as a member of the Connecticut Accountability Work Group, which was tasked with reviewing and supporting the refinement of the K-12 accountability systems proposed by the State of Connecticut.  The systems were designed to improve upon the current Strategic School Profiles and School Performance Reports created by the Connecticut State Department of Education.  Additionally, Dr. Silver has served on the Manchester Board of Education, COMPASS Youth Collaborative Board of Directors, and Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology, Student Data, and Privacy Advisory Council, among other professional organizations/committees, councils, and networks.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, English, University of Connecticut
• Master of Arts, Special Education, and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut
• Post-doctoral study in Educational Leadership at the Central Connecticut State University
• Connecticut’s Superintendent of Schools and Intermediate Administrator or Supervision certifications.