Branford Superintendent Chosen to Serve on a New State Education Committee

Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-Branford) announced that Branford Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez has been appointed to the newly-formed “Planning Commission for Education.” Hernandez will work alongside other superintendents, teachers and other members of the Commission to develop a statewide strategic plan for the future of education in Connecticut.

“Hamlet has served Branford schools for many years, and I look forward to having him extend his expertise to the rest of Connecticut,” said Senator Kennedy. “Connecticut has a great public education system, and it is vitally important that we maintain it in order to ensure our students remain competitive in the increasingly complex and globalized job market. I was proud to recommend Hamlet Hernandez for this position, and look forward to continuing to work with him on both local and statewide education issues.”

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to participate in shaping the future of public education in the state of Connecticut,” said Branford Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez.

The Planning Commission for Education was established by the General Assembly this year to confront a range of education issues. The Commission’s goal is to develop a strategic plan articulating how Connecticut can further establish a sustainable, equitable, and high-quality public education system that meets every student’s needs.

The strategic plan will addresses a range of issues, including:

- Identifying the most important outcomes of public education and how they can be achieved
- How schools can better prepare students to meet the challenges of work, citizenship, and life upon graduation
- How to ensure effective communication between schools and the families of the children who attend them
- Ways to share best practices within the public school system so as to promote high quality instruction and continuous systemic improvement

Hamlet Hernandez has served as Branford’s superintendent since June of 2010. Prior to coming to Branford, Hernandez was an assistant superintendent in Hamden, and worked as both a principal and teacher in Hamden public schools. Hernandez will be joined on the commission by other superintendents, educators, as well as early childhood and adult education specialists, business leaders, parents, and civil rights and special education specialists.