Bridgeport School superintendent pushes back after teacher survey finds 'no confidence' in her leadership
The survey, completed by 600 of the district's 1,400 teachers, found 97% of them have no confidence in Levy-David's leadership.
A new survey by the Connecticut Education Association (CEA), the state's biggest teacher's union, delivered a blistering assessment Thursday of the job being done by the Bridgeport School Superintendent Dr. Carmela Levy-David.
The survey, completed by 600 of the district's 1,400 teachers, found 97% of them have no confidence in Levy-David's leadership. A total of 93% said they fear retaliation if they voice concerns about current conditions, according to a press release CEA issued Thursday.
"I think there's this intense disbelief and distrust in the decision-making of the superintendent," said CEA President Kate Dias.
Levy-David pushed back hard.
"I understand that there are people who feel it's too much change, or maybe the changes we're making don't align with their values. I get that -- but we have to make decisions that are going to ensure that the majority of the students that we serve have access to an equitable education setting -- because our schools are severely under-performing," Levy-David said.
"Above all, I want the teachers to know that I hear them, and I look forward to working with them to help our kids do their best and graduate," Levy-David said.
A school board meeting scheduled for Thursday night was abruptly canceled.
Christine Baptiste Perez, chair of the Bridgeport School Board, made a brief statement.
"The board must now focus on student educational outcomes -- because current test scores and opportunities for our kids are unacceptable," Baptiste-Perez said.
