Outgoing Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez recently visited the Digital Journalism class at Branford High School, where he talked about his experience being a superintendent for the last 13 years.
Before joining the Branford Community in 2010, he served five years as an assistant superintendent for Hamden school district. Before Hernandez, 61, became a superintendent for a school district, he was in the U.S Marine Corps at the start of 1982 and retired in 2004.
“I tend to make a list of things I want to accomplish,” he said.
Hernandez visited the Digital Journalism class to talk with students and share his story with the seniors in the class who are graduating this month. He said he always believed in the idea of “Pay it forward,” which means giving it back positively to one another so it continues to be a cycle throughout life.
During his visit, he talked about his hardship throughout his own high school years and how English wasn’t his first language. He is originally from Cuba and his parents had to start a whole new life when they moved to America in the 1950s.
At age 17 to 18 he already knew what he wanted to do, he said. He joined the U.S. Marines because he wanted to serve for this country because he thinks this country did so much for his family. At age 24, he retired from the Marine Corps and started college because he also always wanted to become a teacher.
Throughout his 13 years of being a superintendent, he has many achievements that he is proud of. For one thing, Branford is now more diverse than ever before, “Our community wasn’t as diverse before,” he said.
He said he is proud of the Branford district and how the schools help encouraged students to have ideas about their future after graduation and to take things away from their high school education.
Hernandez said he felt the same stress while being a superintendent that he had felt before, when being a marine officer at age of 20.
“Stress can also be caused by joyful moments,” he said. “And it’s not just about difficult and challenging moments.”
As he prepares to leave the district, he said there are some things that he wished he accomplished as superintendent. He said he wanted to create an early learning center where pre-K students and young elementary students can attend the same school. He also said he wished the district had created a stronger partnership with other high schools in different parts of the world.
The new superintendent for Branford Public Schools is Christopher Tranberg from Darien. He was hired in March, but he will officially start July 1.
Hamlet said the new superintendent will also continue to build on the district’s strengths but will continue making changes with his own team. “He will put his own “DNA” on the district,” he said.
Hernandez retirement plans include travel with his wife, continuing with his hobby, which includes fly fishing, and also his job at Quinnipiac University where he will serve as in the educational leadership department.
