Bridgeport board completes communications training; superintendent to run ThoughtExchange survey

The Bridgeport Board of Education met in a special in-person session Monday evening, June 2, at Harding High School’s library for the sixth of a multi-part communications training series for board members and district leaders. The board completed the session, directed Interim Superintendent Dr. Avery to develop a ThoughtExchange survey for district stakeholders within two weeks, and agreed to hold community forums required by the commissioner’s office to collect public input.

The training, led by a consultant identified in the meeting as Chris, focused on how the board and the district tell their story, build public confidence and create two-way engagement with families, staff and community partners. “If you don't tell your story, someone else will,” Chris told the board, urging members to be proactive about messaging, use the district website and social channels strategically, and expand community listening opportunities beyond formal board meetings.

The session combined practical recommendations with governance reminders. Chris and trainer Jody Goler reviewed examples — including a newsletter for civic leaders, improved website bios for board members, roundtable-style community forums and deliberate visibility at local events — that boards can use to increase transparency and public trust. Board chair Jennifer Perez, who opened the meeting, said she was appointed to the seat and ran to “make some changes to the system that has not been kind to the citizens here of this town.” Board members and the superintendent emphasized the need to pair improved communication with concrete work on student achievement.

Board members and staff discussed key, district-scale messages the board should own: its role in hiring and evaluating the superintendent, fiscal oversight including the budget pressures the district faces, policy work, and goal-setting or strategic direction. Participants repeatedly returned to two themes: that meetings and visible, civil governance model the behavior the public expects of district leaders, and that two-way listening (roundtables, neighborhood forums and pop-up “roadshow” events) can surface priorities that do not come through formal public-comment processes.

Several members praised practical tactics discussed during the session. The presenter described a model used elsewhere in which board members attend small-group community forums as listeners rather than delivering long presentations, and then publicly summarize themes that emerged. Board member Akisha Casimir said she has “dedicated my personal and professional life to improving the quality of life of students, particularly African American students because they're the most vulnerable,” and supported more listening-centered outreach.

On next steps the board agreed, by consensus, to a timeline for the superintendent’s short stakeholder survey: Dr. Avery was asked to prepare and make available a ThoughtExchange survey to solicit staff and community input on priorities and student achievement; the board set a target of June 18 for the survey to be ready. Members also discussed scheduling a series of community forums (the board’s bylaws call for regular community engagement and the commissioner’s office has requested forums on goals), and asked district communications staff to coordinate website updates that include member bios and a clear articulation of the board’s responsibilities.

The meeting concluded with a procedural motion to adjourn that the board approved by voice vote. The board indicated it will follow up with an implementation timeline and communications materials to support the survey and planned community forums.