Heather Borges Steps Up to be Named Superintendent
Barbara Heimlich
Editor
Sources: Stratford Board of Education; Patch; Connecticut Post
On Monday the Stratford Board of Education, approved Heather Borges as the school district’s next superintendent. Borges, who served as the acting superintendent of schools for more than a year, was selected following a nationwide search that included more than a than a dozen candidates.
“I’m honored by the board’s vote and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue serving the Stratford Public Schools community,” Borges said in a statement. “I remain committed to working in partnership with our students, staff, families and town to support the success and well-being of every learner.”
Michael Fiorello, the president of Stratford Education Association, said the union that represents the district’s teachers has had a “strong working relationship” with Borges for many years.
“In her roles as principal, director of pupil services, and acting superintendent, Ms. Borges has displayed personal integrity, respect for teachers, and a positive vision for Stratford students,” Fiorello said. “We look forward to working with her in the coming years, collaborating whenever possible, negotiating in good faith and respecting differences of opinion when they arise.”
Monday’s vote was held after the seven-member school board held closed-doors interviews last month with four finalists for the district’s top administrative job, including Borges and three outside applicants.
The board had hired the Wethersfield-based Connecticut Association of Boards of Education to help conduct the search, and agreed to pay the organization about $13,000 for the service.
As a condition of the appointment, Borges must successfully complete a state-mandated superintendent certification program by December 31, 2026. The board has not yet offered a contract to Borges. Henrick said the panel is expected to spend the coming weeks negotiating an employment agreement before holding a vote on a contract.
Borges’ appointment was supported by Chair Michael Henrick, Vice Chair Kristen Bedell, Secretary Sean Kennedy, Christopher Cormier and William O’Brien.
Jill D’Angelo-Powers and Lisa Carroll-Fabian, both Democrats, abstained from the decision, saying they had concerns about the hiring process and the level of input from the public.
Though she praised Borges for her leadership qualities, Carroll-Fabian claimed the majority of the board “had a predetermined outcome in mind” and effectively sidelined other qualified candidates.
“When guidelines are not consistently followed and community stakeholders are left in the dark, it undermines the trust essential to any successful leadership transition,” Carroll-Fabian said.
Henrick, a Republican, disputed that characterization. He argued the public was involved in the search effort from the start.
