Norwalk Superintendent To Leave District At End Of School Year, Accepts New Position In Georgia

NORWALK, CT — Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella plans to leave her current position at the end of the school year after accepting a new position in Georgia, the district announced Thursday.

According to a news release provided by the district, Estrella has accepted an offer from Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia's largest school system with about 180,000 students, to become their new superintendent of schools.

Estrella was the sole finalist for the position, the district noted.

Estrella remains committed to Norwalk Public Schools until the end of the school year, according to the release.

"This decision comes with mixed emotions," Estrella said in a news release. "Professionally, the opportunity to lead one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the nation represents an important milestone in my career. Personally, however, it is incredibly difficult to step away from a community that has meant so much to me and my family. Both of my sons graduated from Norwalk schools, and the relationships we have built here will always remain deeply meaningful."

The Board of Education will announce an interim superintendent soon and start to conduct a national search for Estrella's successor, according to the release.

"Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my career," Estrella said. "Norwalk will always hold a special place in my heart."

Estrella joined Norwalk Public Schools in July 2020, guiding the district through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, overseeing a period of significant academic growth, operational improvement and expanded student supports, according to the district.

In a statement Thursday, Mayor Barbara Smyth thanked Estrella for all her work over the past nearly six years.

"On behalf of our entire community, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Superintendent Dr. Estrella for her six years of dedicated service to our school district," Smyth said. "Under her leadership, our schools have made progress, and our students have been given opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive. She has implemented SRBI with fidelity throughout the district and expanded the range of special education services. In partnership with state leaders and organizations she implemented protocols to bring down chronic absenteeism and opened four school-based health centers."

Smyth also noted the new superintendent position in Georgia is "an exciting opportunity" for Estrella.

"We wish her continued success in her new role and thank her for the contributions she has made to our community," Smyth said. "As we move forward, I am committed to working closely with the Board of Education to ensure a seamless transition for our schools and our community. Our shared focus remains clear: supporting our students, our educators, and our families while continuing to build on the progress that has been made. I am confident that together we will continue moving our district forward and providing every student with the opportunities they deserve."

According to the release, Norwalk Public Schools has consistently ranked as the top-performing city school district in Connecticut during Estrella's tenure.

The district's graduation rate reached 92.6 percent in 2024, chronic absenteeism declined significantly to 17.9 percent during the 2024–25 school year and districtwide academic growth in English/language arts and mathematics exceeded state averages, according to the district.

High-needs students outperformed their statewide peers in growth metrics for three consecutive years in both ELA and math, according to the district.

The district also made notable progress in serving students with disabilities and multilingual learners, the release notes.

Graduation rates for multilingual learners increased by more than eight percent between 2023 and 2024, while the graduation rate for students receiving special education services rose nearly nine percent over four years. The district expanded inclusive practices, enabling more students to learn alongside their peers within Norwalk schools, according to the district.

Under Estrella's leadership, Norwalk Public Schools invested in leadership development, instructional coaching and professional learning for educators, including the introduction of dedicated professional development for paraprofessionals, according to the district.

The district modernized learning through investments in digital tools and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence, while advancing its Portrait of a Graduate initiative to better prepare students for the future, according to the district.

According to the release, Estrella also oversaw:

• Establishment of school-based equity teams to promote inclusive school cultures and reduce disciplinary actions.

• More than doubling the number of school-based health centers across the district.

• Strengthening of district data systems to better track student progress and improve instructional decision-making.

• Advancement of multiple school construction and facilities improvement projects to create modern, safe learning environments.

"None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our educators, staff, families and community partners," Estrella said. "Their commitment to our students has shaped every success we have achieved together."