An overwhelming majority of Bridgeport teachers have no confidence in the superintendent’s ability to manage the school system effectively, according to a recent survey.
The survey, conducted by the Bridgeport Education Association and the Connecticut Education Association, showed 97% of the nearly 600 participants have no confidence in Dr. Carmela M. Levy-David’s leadership. It also showed teachers in the district are frustrated, fear retaliation and are concerned over a lack of resources within the district and lack of support for special education.
“The results of this survey should come as no surprise and should be a wake-up call to the Board of Education to take action,” said CEA President Kate Dias in a news release.
“Our teachers have held rallies and are speaking loud and clear: they feel unsupported, unappreciated, and fearful of retaliation if they voice their concerns.”
The survey shows a deep divide between teachers and district leadership, the CEA said.
Levy-David has served as Bridgeport’s superintendent since August 2023. Her school district bio touts “a proven track record of community engagement and building bridges in support of student success and academic achievement.”
Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carmela M. Levy-David. Credit: Contributed photo / Bridgeport School District
Levy-David did not respond to an emailed request seeking comment Monday. In a statement issued last week in response to the survey, she said she takes the concerts expressed by teachers very seriously and that administrators are working diligently to continuously improve the district for teachers.
“We understand that feelings of fear and apprehension can significantly impact our staff’s willingness to communicate openly, but their feedback is essential to continue to make things better for them moving forward,” Levy-David said in the statement.
“We are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment where educators feel empowered to express their thoughts and concerns without fear of retaliation.”
At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, many teachers participated in a silent protest over decisions made by the administration, including a stricter dress code policy and last-minute curriculum changes. Levy-David has also been criticized for her plan to close six schools and extend the school day by 15 minutes.
The teachers union said complaints and concerns raised by both teachers and parents have gone unanswered by the superintendent, and they are urging the Board of Education to take action.
The school board was scheduled to meet Thursday evening but the meeting was canceled. A new meeting was scheduled for Monday evening. The chairwoman of the school board did not respond to an emailed request for comment Monday.
The union’s goal has been to get the results of the survey into the hands of the Board of Education and for the board to consider it as part of its evaluation of the superintendent, Dias said.
In the recent survey, 80% of teachers said they are considering or have considered leaving Bridgeport for a position in another district, which Dias calls “unacceptable.” Some teachers reported their mental health is suffering from coming to work, that the superintendent has created more problems rather than getting them resolved and that she regularly refers to students as “failures.”
“It’s a direct reflection of the superintendent’s failure to foster a collaborative and respectful environment,” Dias said. “We need leadership that listens to teachers, addresses the real issues in our schools, and works with us to provide our students with the resources and support they deserve.”
Dias stressed that the teachers and administrators must be able to work together toward a better future for the district’s children.
“The goal of all of this is a high functioning Bridgeport public school system,” she said.
Bridgeport Public Schools serves more than 20,000 students in about 30 schools, according to the district website. The district has about 1,400 teachers in total.
The survey results released by the CEA showed:
- 97% of teachers lack confidence in the superintendent’s leadership.
- 93% expressed fear of retaliation if they voice concerns about current conditions.
- 93% report the superintendent unprofessional in dealings with teachers and staff.
- 92% say the superintendent lacks consistency in carrying out policies and procedures.
- 88% believe policy decisions are not based on research.