Derby schools Superintendent Stephen Tracy submitted his letter of resignation to the school board April 2. He’s leaving at the end of June to become the superintendent of Unified District No. 2, which is responsible for the education of students in foster and residential care in Connecticut.
The position falls under the jurisdiction of the state’s Department of Children and Families.
Tracy, who was hired locally in 2008, talked to the Valley Indy last week about his reasons for leaving Derby and to give advice to whomever replaces him.
Valley Independent Sentinel: Congratulations on the new job.
Tracy: “Thank you. It’s something that is a little offbeat for me, but the folks in the department called me awhile ago and said ‘We’re looking for a new superintendent up here and would you be interested?’ I have a lot of respect for Justice (Joette) Katz (the DCF commissioner). She left a seat on the state Supreme Court at the governor’s request to take on this department. She deserves credit for doing that. And the deputy commissioner is Janice Gruendel, who has been very active in Connecticut Voices for Children and early childhood education efforts, including here in the Valley. It’s a very interesting opportunity for me to work with people who are trying to improve things and help some pretty deserving children.”
Valley Independent Sentinel: Unified District No. 2 educates kids in foster and residential care. Are you a foster parent?
Tracy: “No, but my wife and I have been involved with an organization in New Milford called ‘Healing the Children’ for the last 17 to 18 years. We have children live with us for several months — sometimes for several years — who need medical attention, typically at the Children’s Medical Center in Hartford or at Yale-New Haven Hospital. We’ve had a number of children stay with us for extended period of times.”
Valley Indy: Any advice for your eventual replacement?
Tracy: “My no. 1 advice would be to focus on children and families. Do as much as you can to understand their expectations and needs. Your job is also to persuade the town to provide the financial resources. You have to also support the staff and look after them. Those are simple things to say but it is a real challenge in a city like Derby, where the financial resources are limited and most of the decision makers in the city do not have children in the public school system. Most of the taxpayers do not have children in public schools. That is a challenge my successor will face. What do these children need to have a shot at a successful life and how do you persuade the city to provide the financial wherewithal — and then make your own staff to make good use of those funds?”
Valley Indy: What’s something unique about Derby?
Tracy:“I’ve worked in a number of places, many similar around the country in terms of urban settings with children that need a lot more than just the basic skills. And I’ve worked in suburban communities that are quite well off. So I’ve been in lots of different places. One thing I can tell you about children in Derby is that they are very appreciative of adult attention. If you are willing to take the time to sit with them in the cafeteria or talk to them at the bus stop, they respond — with stories, with ideas, with good humor. Kids are like that everywhere, but even more so in Derby.”
Valley Indy: In all your years in education, how does Derby rank in terms of challenges? Was this one of your tougher assignments?
Tracy: “Yes, for a number of reasons. Money is obviously tough. Money is not everything in schools, but you have to have a basic amount of money to deliver training for the staff, technology for students. That has been difficult in Derby. I knew that when I was hired in 2008. What I didn’t know that three or four months later we would be in the midst of a recession that seems to have gone on forever. That made the hill a little steeper to climb. Money isn’t everything when it comes to good schools — but it’s not nothing. We’ve lost a number of paraprofessionals who help youngsters in need. We’ve lost our librarians, which we are trying to get back. Our elementary schools are now up or near 400 kids and we have a single principal in each case trying to run the whole show. Funding has been a challenge, especially with the economy and I expect it will be for my replacement.”
