WATERBURY, CT — The Waterbury Public School system is led by Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin-Lyons, an experienced administrator with over 40 years in education. While her resume highlights decades of leadership, some of her past and current actions have drawn criticism and raised serious questions about her management of the district.

Prior to coming to Waterbury, Dr. Ruffin-Lyons held positions in Texas and Tennessee, where reports indicate that her leadership style faced controversy. Sources from Jackson-Madison County, Tenn., her former district, described her tenure as turbulent, noting school closures and lawsuits that followed her administration. One former colleague told The Waterbury Times, “I would never recommend her for any position as superintendent. The district is still recovering from her leadership.”

Since arriving in Waterbury, concerns over district management have continued. Reports show that in a three-year span, 343 students — some as young as 4 years old — were placed in seclusion rooms for non-emergency situations, potentially in violation of Connecticut statute P.A. 18-51. Other issues include the closure of Sacred Heart High School, multiple schools placed on the Commissioner’s Network (a state program for the lowest-performing schools), and hundreds of incidents involving police intervention in schools, affecting primarily young children.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Ruffin-Lyons’ compensation has grown. She currently earns $235,000 annually, received a $5,000 raise in 2020, and continues to be approved by the Waterbury Board of Education, despite performance metrics showing little progress. Before her arrival, the district’s math proficiency was 19%; it has since dropped to 12%. ELA scores have fallen from 27% to 23% over the same period.

Dr. Ruffin-Lyons’ contract is set to expire this year, and the Waterbury Board of Education will vote next year on whether she will continue as superintendent. Questions remain: why does a superintendent continue to receive raises and unanimous board approval when measurable improvements in student performance have been limited?

As Waterbury residents and educators await the decision, the discussion around accountability and effective leadership in the city’s schools remains a critical conversation.

the switch up

Members of the Waterbury Board of Education are reportedly beginning to second-guess their decision to hire and renew Dr. Verna Ruffin-Lyons’ contract. What initially seemed like a solid choice now appears to have become more than the city bargained for, with her salary serving as a stark reminder that the investment has yet to yield tangible results.

Some board members, including Mr. Van Stone, have publicly shifted their stance, raising questions about what may have influenced the change. Speculation is mounting that potential federal scrutiny, including a possible Department of Justice review, could bring additional pressure to the district’s leadership.

Meanwhile, the conditions under which Waterbury students are learning remain deeply concerning. The quality of education and the support available to students are widely regarded as insufficient, leaving many to fear that children may not be adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.

Examples abound:

• Half-days on Wednesdays are scheduled for teacher “training,” further reducing the instructional time for students in a district already struggling to meet basic educational needs.
• Chronic understaffing has forced irregular classroom placements. In one case, a fifth-grade student spent her final year of elementary school being moved from class to class, with no stable fifth-grade teacher available.

Board members, educators, and parents agree: change is needed, and it’s needed fast. The children of Waterbury deserve an education that equips them for the future — not one defined by instability and unmet basic standards.

the solution?

It is time to find a new Superintendent of Schools who is in touch with the nature of Waterbury and can relate to the students and motivate them to greatness.

Let your voice be heard. Demand that Dr. Verna Ruffin not have her contract renewed this year. Demand an investigation of Waterbury Public School System.

Waterbury Board of Education 203-574-8000

CONNECTICUT Dept of Education – 860-713-6543