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While students were away for summer break, teams across Bridgeport Public Schools worked to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year through teacher recruitment, facility improvements, instructional planning, and operational enhancements.

“We had a lot of work in front of us this summer, and our people stepped up,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery. “Whether it was hiring teachers, preparing our buildings, strengthening instruction or improving our systems, the focus was the same: doing better for our students.”

Teacher recruitment remained a top priority. The district reduced more than 80 teacher vacancies to 21, including just one remaining Special Education vacancy, through aggressive hiring efforts and summer interview events.

Building Operations teams completed projects across the district, including HVAC upgrades, playground improvements, bathroom renovations, gym floor work, painting, exterior repairs, environmental testing, and preparations for the future John Winthrop and Skane campus.

Academic teams strengthened literacy and mathematics instruction by refining curriculum, pacing guides, teacher resources, and professional learning. The district continues to emphasize foundational literacy, reading comprehension, small-group instruction, financial literacy, and targeted support for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Five Bridgeport teachers also helped develop the new BPS Classroom Framework to promote engaging, positive, structured, and safe learning environments.

The district also completed implementation of all 34 forensic audit recommendations, strengthening financial procedures, internal controls, human resources practices, budgeting, and district operations, while continuing efforts to monitor and sustain those improvements.

“We know there are still challenges ahead, but there is real progress happening across Bridgeport Public Schools,” Avery said. “I am grateful to everyone who worked throughout the summer to get us ready. Now that our students are back, we keep moving forward together.”

With students now back in classrooms, the summer preparation has shifted into the work that matters most: turning that progress into a stronger school year for every Bridgeport student.

Bridgeport, CT – The Bridgeport School Board has selected Zeal Education Group, a national education consulting firm, to lead the district in a comprehensive and transparent search for its next superintendent.

“The Board is committed to a transparent, community-informed search to identify the best leader for our students and the future of Bridgeport Public Schools, Jennifer Perez Chair of the School Board. 

“Partnering with Zeal will help us attract exceptional candidates who reflect the values and priorities of our schools and community, and we look forward to engaging all stakeholders throughout this process.”

The search will include opportunities for public input and stakeholder engagement. Zeal will collaborate closely with the Board, district leadership, staff, families, and the Bridgeport communities to ensure local voices help shape the search criteria and inform the Board as they select their next Superintendent. 

“We are honored to support the Bridgeport Public Schools in this important work,” said Dr. Jeff Melendez, Founder & CEO of Zeal Education Group. “We are eager to begin working with the district to recruit an inspiring leader.”

The notice of this vacancy will begin immediately, with the goal of identifying a new superintendent by December 1, 2026, with an actual start date of July 1, 2027.

About Zeal Education Group

Zeal Education Group is a national consulting firm committed to partnering with schools and districts to solve their greatest challenges. Our team of superintendents and education-industry thought leaders brings unparalleled expertise across every critical area of education, delivering innovative solutions that drive meaningful change.

Learn more at www.zeal-ed.com.

For more information, please contact Tim Grasty at tgrasty@bridgeportedu.net.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Bridgeport Public Schools is transforming multilingual education with the launch of the district's first comprehensive K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum initiative, creating a unified instructional framework that will strengthen language development and ensure consistent, high quality instruction for multilingual learners across every grade level. 

Serving 5,594 multilingual learners, the district continues to build a stronger, more equitable educational experience by expanding student supports, strengthening instructional systems, investing in educators, and improving access to high quality language instruction.

"For the first time, Bridgeport Public Schools has a comprehensive K through 12 vision for multilingual education," said Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery. "This initiative creates a clear and consistent pathway for students to develop the language skills they need to succeed academically while ensuring every multilingual learner receives the support they deserve."

The new curriculum establishes a structured, research based approach to English language development, supporting students in listening, speaking, reading, and writing while providing teachers with district approved instructional resources to ensure consistency across all schools.

Throughout the 2025 to 2026 school year, the Multilingual Learners and World Languages Department also expanded access to appropriately leveled ESL instruction by introducing an additional Early Intermediate ESL course and deploying additional campus based tutors to better support students.

The department strengthened instructional practices through districtwide professional learning, individualized coaching at six school campuses, and the 2026 Multilingual Learner Summit, which brought educators together to share research based strategies, celebrate student achievement, and reinforce the district's commitment to multilingual learners.

Operational improvements also strengthened services districtwide. The department enhanced assessment systems through standardized testing procedures, created a centralized technology support system for language assessments, streamlined the Seal of Biliteracy process, strengthened monitoring of ESL service delivery, and launched a department newsletter to improve communication and collaboration across schools.

The department also opened the school year fully staffed and reduced bilingual teacher vacancies from six positions to two, strengthening instructional continuity and expanding support for multilingual learners throughout the district.

These efforts contributed to meaningful student outcomes. During the 2025 to 2026 school year, 329 students demonstrated English language proficiency and successfully exited ESL services, while 211 students participated in the Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing their achievement in multiple languages.

"Our multilingual learners bring incredible strengths, experiences, and cultures into our classrooms every day," said Dr. Avery. "This work is about more than language acquisition. It is about creating opportunities, removing barriers, and ensuring every student has the tools to succeed."

Bridgeport Public Schools will continue working alongside the Connecticut State Department of Education, TEACH Connecticut, and district leaders to expand opportunities for multilingual learners while addressing the ongoing statewide shortage of certified bilingual educators and strengthening instructional supports across every school

A transformational investment in the future of Bridgeport students is on the horizon.

Bridgeport Public Schools is moving forward with the construction of a new $80+ million state of the art John Winthrop School, a modern, energy efficient campus that will redefine the educational experience for generations of students while replacing facilities that have served the community for more than five decades.

The project will bring John Winthrop School and Skane School together on one campus while preserving the identity of each school. Each will feature its own dedicated entrance, distinct architectural design, and separate learning environment, creating two unique school communities within one innovative facility.

Designed with students, families, and the surrounding neighborhood in mind, the new campus will include improved on site traffic circulation to reduce congestion during arrival and dismissal while enhancing safety for students and residents.

The more than $80 million investment will replace aging buildings that are between 50 year old with a state of the art learning environment featuring modern classrooms, advanced technology, energy efficient building systems, collaborative learning spaces, and enhanced security. The new facility is designed to support the needs of today's learners while preparing students for tomorrow's opportunities.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a school that reflects the quality of education we strive to provide," said Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery. "This project is more than a new building. It is an investment in our students, our educators, our families, and the future of Bridgeport. It represents our commitment to creating learning environments that inspire excellence and prepare every student for success."

The new John Winthrop School is another step in Bridgeport Public Schools' long term commitment to modernizing district facilities and ensuring every student has access to safe, innovative, and high quality learning spaces

Bridgeport, CT – Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery is presenting his 2025–2026 Superintendent Evaluation Report to the Bridgeport Board of Education this evening, providing a comprehensive overview of the district's progress, ongoing challenges, and strategic priorities for the future.

The report reflects a year of focused efforts to address longstanding challenges, strengthen accountability, improve student outcomes, and build a stronger foundation for the future of Bridgeport Public Schools. While significant work remains, the report highlights measurable progress across academics, staffing, fiscal management, Special Education services, facilities planning, family engagement, and community partnerships.

Among the accomplishments highlighted in the report are a 16% increase in K–2 students performing at or above literacy benchmark, a 15% increase in students in grades 7–12 reading at or above grade level, a 2.6% decrease in chronic absenteeism, and the launch of the district's first comprehensive K–12 ESL curriculum development initiative designed to strengthen language development across listening, speaking, reading, and writing for more than 5,500 multilingual learners.

The report also outlines significant operational and financial progress, including securing more than $35.4 million in additional state and municipal funding, obtaining $108.7 million in awarded grant funding, implementing all 34 forensic audit recommendations, and reducing certified staff vacancies from more than 150 positions to 41. The district also reduced Special Education teacher vacancies from 31 to 2 and bilingual teacher vacancies from 6 to 2, helping strengthen support for students across the district.

Additional highlights include the launch of a centralized Enrollment Center to improve access and customer service for families, the introduction of a redesigned district website to enhance communication and accessibility, advancement of a new $74 million Special Education Center, and completion of the district's first comprehensive Facilities Master Plan in more than a decade.

“Over the past year, we have worked to address immediate challenges while building stronger systems that support long-term success for students, staff, and families,” said Dr. Avery. “This report reflects meaningful progress across the district, but it also recognizes the work that remains. Our responsibility is to continue building on this momentum, remain focused on student outcomes, and ensure every child has access to the opportunities and support they deserve.”

The report will be presented during this evening's Board of Education meeting and will be made available to the public following the presentation.