Charlene Russell-Tucker

Education visionary with a passion for positive outcomes for each and every child.
Commissioner - Connecticut State Department of Education @EducateCT

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Registration is open for CSDE's Paraeducator Prep Academy, which prepares aspiring paraeducators for the ParaPathways assessment by providing instruction from certified educators and covering the full cost of study materials and the exam!
Learn more: https://t.co/8Z9giHLTaK

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

⚾️Step up to the plate!

Connecticut school staff can enter for a chance to win four tickets to a @GoYardGoats home game.

See how to enter and explore more great offers in the CSDE School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack! https://t.co/V72WGJvnMp

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

🎢Make the most of summer with family fun at @quassyamusement! Connecticut school staff can receive special rates on combo tickets and season passes thanks to CSDE's School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack. For this opportunity and more, go to https://t.co/V72WGJvnMp

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Ready to climb?

First-time visitors can enjoy a FREE day pass, plus additional savings on memberships and punch passes at Ascent Climbing Gym.

Check out this and dozens of other discounts in the CSDE School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack! https://t.co/V72WGJuPWR

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Explore Connecticut's rich history this summer!

School staff receive FREE general admission for up to four people at the @TheCTMuseum of Culture and History.

Discover this and many more deals in the CSDE School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack! https://t.co/V72WGJvnMp

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Take your summer adventure to new heights!

Connecticut school staff can receive $10 off general admission at The Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum. Find this offer and many more in the CSDE School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack! https://t.co/V72WGJuPWR

[Charlene Russell-Tucker @CharleneRTedu]

Thank you to all school staff. Have an enjoyable summer.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

🌞This summer, school staff from across CT can take advantage of dozens of discounts from Red Sox and Yankees games to hotels, restaurants, and more!

To view a complete list of participating businesses and how to access discounts & opportunities, go to https://t.co/fxCbZLZkEk

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Thank you to everyone who joined us today at Conard High School to celebrate Connecticut’s 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools and recognize six outstanding public schools for their excellence in academic achievement and student success:

🏅 Great Oak Elementary School, Oxford

🏅 Nathan Hale School, Meriden

🏅 New Lebanon School, Greenwich

🏅 Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield

🏅 Webster Hill School, West Hartford

🏅 Western CT Academy of International Studies Elementary Magnet School, Danbury

A special thank you to @GovNedLamont, @LGSusanB, State Board of Education Vice Chair @benhamerin, state and local elected officials, school and district leaders, educators, and community members for joining Commissioner @CharleneRTedu and Team CSDE in celebrating these remarkable schools.

Our Blue Ribbon Schools represent what is possible when school staff, families, and communities come together to ensure every student has the opportunity to unlock their lifelong potential. Congratulations to all six schools on this well-deserved recognition!

To learn more about these remarkable schools, go to: https://t.co/NMlFXeYRq2

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Congratulations to the two student members of the State Board of Education – Samarth Basanth and Hansika Lenkala – for completing their year of service.

Their voices have been an invaluable asset to the Board, and we wish them success on their continued academic endeavors!

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Members of Connecticut's State Student Advisory Council on Education presented thoughtful, student-led research and recommendations to the State Board of Education today on mathematics education and artificial intelligence. From strengthening math confidence and career connections to promoting responsible AI use and digital literacy, these student leaders demonstrated the power of student voice in shaping the future of education.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

More than 300 members of the Class of 2026, representing more than 50 schools across Connecticut and neighboring states, were celebrated last night at the 2026 Groton Signing Day after accepting job offers from Electric Boat and taking the next step toward meaningful careers in Connecticut's growing workforce.

"We are incredibly proud that you are choosing to build a future in our small but mighty state," Commissioner @CharleneRTedu told the students as she joined Congressman @JoeCourtneyCT, Dr. Alice Pritchard, members of the United States military, and @GDElectricBoat leadership in recognizing this important milestone.

These students are a powerful example of what is possible when schools, employers, and communities work together to expand career pathways and unlock lifelong potential. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 as you begin this exciting new chapter, helping to build Connecticut's future workforce and strengthen our nation's defense.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

As we near the end of the school year, @LGSusanB & Commissioner @CharleneRTedu are encouraging businesses to participate in the 5th Annual School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack Program by opting-in to provide discounts to school staff over the summer https://t.co/ZzeL2d584X

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Great news! This past April, CT recorded its lowest chronic absenteeism rate on record for this point in a school year.

Rates also dropped from 17.2% in March to 16.7% in April, with gains across nearly all student groups.

Let's finish the year strong, in school, every day.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Yesterday, Commissioner @CharleneRTedu convened more than a dozen educators from across CT for the 2026 Commissioner's Teacher Roundtable in partnership with the Teacher of the Year Council.

The conversation focused on supporting student learning, strengthening the teaching profession, and preparing for the future of teaching - including student engagement, school climate, educator leadership, mental health supports, and the evolving role of Al in education.

Thank you to all the educators who shared thoughtful, solution-oriented perspectives and recommendations grounded in their experiences serving students across our state. Your partnership and leadership continue to help Connecticut strengthen teaching and learning for every learner.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Did you know?

CT high school students are bringing STEM to life—taking on a global wildlife crisis having already achieved patent-pending status for their invention.

Selected as 1 of 8 teams nationwide for MIT’s InvenTeams program, students from Berlin have developed real-world solutions to protect bat populations and combat White-Nose Syndrome.

Last week, they presented their work to Commissioner @CharleneRTedu and the State Board of Education, which you can watch here: https://t.co/uKVGxJurdV

As one Board member shared, their curiosity, perseverance, and ability to communicate complex ideas is “truly impressive," and a powerful example of how students are building real-world skills and exploring future career pathways through hands-on learning.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday’s Commissioner’s Roundtable for Family & Community Engagement in Education.

This convening is an important space for families and community partners to share perspectives, elevate local experiences, and help inform statewide efforts to strengthen education for all students.

Yesterday’s discussion highlighted several key areas shaping our work across Connecticut, including continued progress in student attendance, opportunities that connect students to career pathways, and the growing importance of digital literacy and impact of AI in today’s classrooms.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

This morning in Hartford, the CT State Department of Education’s inaugural Curriculum Teacher Leader Fellowship brought together more than 100 educators from across the state for a day of collaboration, learning, and leadership development focused on strengthening curriculum.

Commissioner @CharleneRTedu opened the event by recognizing the collective impact of educators and emphasizing the importance of coming together to share ideas, learn from one another, and build a community of practice that extends beyond individual districts.

Under the leadership of CSDE’s Academic Office, the Curriculum Teacher Leader Fellowship equips educators with the strategies and leadership skills needed to shape high-quality instructional materials and strengthen local practice.
As the Commissioner noted, this work is about ensuring educators are supported, connected, and empowered so they can bring that learning back to their districts and help prepare every student for learning, life, and work beyond school.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

Thank you to @capssct for convening Connecticut superintendents and district leaders for today’s Spring Conference focused on Leading Transformational Learning and shaping the future of our schools.

Commissioner @CharleneRTedu shared remarks grounded in purpose, partnership, and the importance of prioritizing well-being in leadership amid the complexity of today’s work. Appreciation to keynote speaker and author of Reset, Dan Heath, for insights that continue to challenge and inspire how we approach change and decision-making in education.

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

DID YOU KNOW!!

Educator vacancies in CT are trending downward.

From Aug. 2024 to Feb. 2026, vacancies have declined across all categories, including special ed teachers and paraeducators, and all other teachers and paraeducators, indicating improved staffing levels statewide!

[CT Dept of Education @EducateCT]

It was an honor to join more than 400 aspiring educators - middle and high school students from over 20 districts across Connecticut - today at the 6th
Annual @EdRisingCT State
Conference at @SCSU.

Thank you to Educators Rising for organizing a wonderful event to celebrate and support the next generation of educators.

This work is critical to our
continued focus on expanding our educator workforce, so that every classroom has skilled, high-quality, and inspiring educators.

As Commissioner @CharleneRTEdu told the students in her remarks, "Our state needs talented, passionate educators who believe in the promise of every student and to awaken the potential that every child brings into the classroom."