Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, who is a graduate of Hartford Public Schools, earned her Bachelor in Human Development and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Connecticut, and received a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She has been committed to education in Greater Hartford for over two decades. She is guided by deeply rooted commitments to continuous learning and leadership capacity-building in herself and others, while collaborating with others to improve educational outcomes for learners.
Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos
Deputy Superintendent of Schools
Born in Puerto Rico, Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos relocated at a young age to New York, where he began his education by attending both Holy Family School and later Monsignor Scanlan High School in the Bronx. He began his career in education as a teacher, academic dean, assistant principal, and principal. Over the next several years he served as adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle, The Ministry of Education of Lithuania, Fordham University, University of Notre Dame, Saint Leo University, Argosy University, and the Ana G. Méndez University System.
Dr. June Sellers
Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services
Dr. June Sellers is an educator and administrator in the field of special education with proven skills working at the systems level to engineer and implement district-wide improvements to advance and improve educational services and outcomes for with students with disabilities. Her experience includes working with students and adults from diverse academic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. At the leadership level, her work includes conceptualizing and creating equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for students with disabilities, and other traditionally under served populations experiencing gaps in achievement.
Dr. Madeline Negrón
Chief Academic Officer
With over 20 years in urban education, Dr. Negrón is a resonant leader who motivates and inspires others by sharing hope and an optimistic view of the future. Dr. Negrón is a systems thinker and a creative, tenacious leader who sets high goals for achievement and success through accountability. As a reflective educator, Dr. Negrón continually engages others in the reflective process to ensure high expectations for student performance.
Evette Avila
Chief of Schools
Ms. Avila is a well-known educational leader who continues to empower, lead, motivate, and unite others to make sustainable systematic changes that make a difference. She remains dedicated and passionate for the field of education. She takes pride in fostering supportive, safe, caring, and challenging learning environments for all learners. Her versatile career of over 24 years has provided her with extensive experiences. Ms. Avila has taught various grades at the elementary, middle school, and college level in both public and private schools.
Nuchette Black-Burke
Chief Engagement & Partnerships Officer
Ms. Black-Burke is an innovative and collaborative community and family engagement professional with over 10 years of experience in education coordination and non-profit program administration. Ms. Black-Burke has extensive communication and relationship -building experience across diverse populations, ranging from work with teenagers and young adult students, to community, civic, educational and political leaders, via workshop facilitation, board membership, advocacy efforts, an public speaking. Ms. Black-Burke is highly skilled in grant program management, successfully developing structures for sustainability within programs.
John Fergus
Director of Communications and Marketing
Mr. Fergus brings deep expertise in communications and marketing in education. He most recently served as the Director of Marketing & Communications for Catapult Academy, a Division of Catapult Learning, where he was responsible for achieving target enrollment goals, multi-channel marketing campaigns, management of marketing operations teams in two states
Clarence Zachery
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Clarence Zachery served as former Stamford Public Schools Chief Fiscal and Operations Support Officer (CFOSO). Mr. Zachery led the non-academic operations and fiscal management of the Stamford public school system with a $273 million operating budget and $29 million grant budget, 21 schools and 16,000 students. He supervised and managed all aspects of operations support including finance, facilities management, technology, food service, transportation and security
Jennifer Hoffman
Special Project Manager in the Office of Academics
Mrs. Hoffman’s more than 20-year career began in Hartford as a special education teacher. Her work in the special education field includes a focus on middle and high school students with diverse backgrounds. Her main focus has always been to build a positive rapport with students and families, while holding high expectations in and out of the classroom.