{"id":222636,"date":"2024-12-16T07:30:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T12:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=222636"},"modified":"2024-12-13T12:33:02","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T17:33:02","slug":"neag-school-alum-christine-carver-honored-as-connecticuts-2025-superintendent-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/12\/neag-school-alum-christine-carver-honored-as-connecticuts-2025-superintendent-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Neag School Alum Christine Carver Honored as Connecticut\u2019s 2025 Superintendent of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christine Carver \u201991 (ED), \u201997 MA, \u201909 Ed.D., superintendent of Bethel Public Schools for the past 10 years, has always had a passion for teaching, learning, and ensuring that students are prepared for their next steps in life. That passion led her to be named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). In a ceremony held at the annual CAPSS convention in November, Carver was celebrated for her dedication to education, innovative leadership, and commitment to student success.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition reflects the collaborative efforts and dedication of our entire school community, \u201d Carver said in her acceptance speech. \u201cIt is a privilege to work alongside such committed educators, support staff, families, and community members who put our students first every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the second year in a row that a UConn Neag School of Education alum has been named the state\u2019s superintendent of the year. Joseph Macary \u201994 (CLAS), \u201905 ELP, \u201916 Ed.D. received the recognition in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carver\u2019s path to this prestigious honor began months ago with a nomination process initiated by CAPSS. The rigorous application process included submitting detailed responses to questions about her leadership philosophy and accomplishments and creating a short video explaining why she was deserving of the award. A committee of former superintendents and education leaders reviewed applications, selecting finalists based on their commitment to excellence and impact on their districts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was humbled to be nominated, let alone selected, \u201d Carver says. \u201cThere are so many deserving superintendents across the state. It\u2019s an honor to represent our shared mission to improve education for all students. \u201d<\/p>\n

Carver earned her bachelor\u2019s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from UConn\u2019s Neag School of Education, where she says the quality of the preparation programs played a significant role in shaping her approach to leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cUConn has always been at the forefront of educational preparation,\u201d Carver says. \u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate to work with incredible mentors and peers throughout my career, many of whom went through these programs with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

UConn has always been at the forefront of educational preparation. I\u2019ve been fortunate to work with incredible mentors and peers throughout my career, many of whom went through these programs with me. — Christine Carver \u201991 (ED), \u201997 MA, \u201909 Ed.D.<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cDr. Carver has been a leader in Connecticut on several fronts, including developing innovative policies and practices that enhance the student experience,\u201d says Casey Cobb, the Neag Endowed Professor of Educational Policy and director of the Neag School\u2019s Ed.D. program. \u201cFor instance, she is enacting a vision to promote 21st-century skills, such as student creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. She initiated a standards-based grading system and established Career Pathways in her home district of Bethel Public Schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a past president of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and has always been a strong advocate for students and families,\u201d Cobb says.<\/p>\n

Carver began her education career as a special education teacher. During her childhood in Connecticut, her parents adopted two children with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis began my experience and interest in providing high-quality educational programs for students with disabilities,\u201d Carver says. \u201cIn college, I worked in a group home for adults with intellectual disabilities. This all contributed to my desire to support students with disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carver was also asked to serve on a Connecticut legislative task force based on her experiences in special education.<\/p>\n

\"Christine
Christine Carver, right, began her career as a special education teacher. (Submitted photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was an honor to be part of committees that formulated policy on the assessment and programmatic needs of students with disabilities,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

She did not plan to go into education administration. Initially, she wanted to receive her department chair certification. As she became more involved with the positions she served in, she wanted to impact larger groups of students.<\/p>\n

Since becoming superintendent of Bethel Public Schools, Carver has been a driving force behind initiatives that prioritize student outcomes and foster community engagement. Under her leadership, the district has embraced a culture of continuous improvement, a philosophy reflected in their motto, \u201cwork hard, play hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur administrative team is focused on growth and high expectations, but we also emphasize creating a culture of joy, risk-taking, and support,\u201d Carver says. \u201cIt\u2019s through collective leadership that we\u2019ve been able to improve outcomes for the children of Bethel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carver attributes much of her success to the strong collaboration between the Bethel Board of Education and her administration. She believes effective governance is the cornerstone of student success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the Board of Education and superintendent work in partnership, they bring together unique perspectives to establish a unified vision,\u201d she explains. \u201cThis synergy enables clear communication, well-informed decision-making, and resource allocation, which directly benefits our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carver acknowledged that the role of a superintendent has its challenges, however. From budget constraints to advocating for resources at the state level, navigating the complexities of public education requires resilience and determination. Carver emphasized the importance of addressing funding inequities, particularly in special education, which she says have a ripple effect on regular education programs.<\/p>\n

\n

Being a superintendent isn\u2019t just about managing the present. It\u2019s about inspiring hope and confidence in the future. — Christine Carver \u201991 (ED), \u201997 MA, \u201909 Ed.D.<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been underfunded in special education for years, which impacts our ability to meet the needs of all students,\u201d she says. \u201cAdvocacy at the state level is crucial for ensuring equitable resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carver credited her colleagues and mentors for helping her navigate the demands of the superintendency, describing the role as both challenging and rewarding.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Joe Macary, the 2024 Superintendent of the Year, noted, this job can feel lonely,\u201d Carver said in her acceptance speech. \u201cBut it\u2019s the strength, friendship, and support from colleagues that get us through both the good and rough times.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Superintendent of the Year, Carver anticipates additional opportunities to advocate for public education and share her insights with others.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a superintendent isn\u2019t just about managing the present,\u201d Carver says. \u201cIt\u2019s about inspiring hope and confidence in the future. Every decision we make can potentially improve student outcomes, empower educators, and build stronger communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carver\u2019s recognition as Superintendent of the Year is a testament to her unwavering dedication to education and her community. As she continues to lead Bethel Public Schools, she remains focused on fostering a supportive environment where students thrive, educators feel valued, and families are engaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we have navigated challenges, celebrated successes, and kept our focus on building a brighter future for every child,\u201d Carver says. \u201cI am profoundly grateful for this award and for the opportunity to make a difference every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To learn more about UConn Neag School of Education\u2019s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Program, visit\u00a0edlead.education.uconn.edu<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carver \u201991 (ED), \u201997 MA, \u201909 Ed.D., superintendent of Bethel Public Schools, was recently recognized by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":222638,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[147,2427,1855,2235,2227],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1879],"class_list":["post-222636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-educational-leadership","category-neag","category-today-homepage","category-uconn-edu-homepage"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-14 05:31:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222636"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222693,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222636\/revisions\/222693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/222638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222636"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=222636"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=222636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}