At a special meeting of the Branford Board of Education (BOE) search committee on March 22, members of the BOE, district leadership, education professionals, Town leaders and community members came out to extend a warm welcome to Branford’s next Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Tranberg, Ph. D.

The brief meeting included the unanimous vote of the search committee to recommend Tranberg to serve as the next Branford Superintendent of Schools. Pending full BOE approval of the recommendation, Tranberg will begin his role as Branford schools’ chief as of July 1, 2023. He succeeds Branford Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez, who joined the district 13 years ago and will retire with the conclusion of the school year in June.

BOE chair and search committee member Peter Berdon thanked Hernandez for his leadership, including guiding the district through the challenges of the pandemic.

“At that time, he committed to the board and the district to steer the district out of those troubled waters and into safe harbor. He’s delivered on that promise. We now see the harbor light, just off our bow. Superintendent Hernandez, we thank you for your commitment to the district and for your service. We honor your professionalism and integrity.”

Hernadez shared his congratulations with Tranberg.

“You are welcome, with open arms. We congratulate you,” said Hernandez to Tranberg. “You will find that Branford Public Schools is an amazing place. The strength of our school district is its staff, and the gift that you will be inheriting is our children.”

Hernandez said he knows Tranberg will enjoy watching the students and staff interact while continually growing and improving under his leadership.

Tranberg said he was humbled to be selected and to be joining a district in which teachers are recognized as “the backbone of the community.“

“For me, teachers are the backbone of our lives,” said Tranberg, who also thanked his mother, aunt, grandmother and husband for joining him at the event, saying of each, “...they are all some of the most important teachers that I have in my life.”

“People often ask, in educational leadership, if you miss teaching,” Tranberg continued. “My answer is, ‘No, I don’t miss teaching, because I haven’t stopped.’ This role as an executive leader, as an assistant superintendent, as a superintendent, as a program director -- wherever we are, we are teaching. Who our students are is what changes. And that happens through listening and learning to each other, and then after we listen and learn and decide where we need to go, we build and we share. I look forward to doing that with all of you, for many years to come.”

Berdon said, as the board and district move forward, “...we will be armed with, and guided by, new tools,” including, among them, an updated strategic coherence plan, a facilities study of John B. Sliney elementary school and an updated security plan.

“Dr. Tranberg, we look forward to receiving you on board in July, cast off our lines and together chart our course for new worlds and our quest for ever-continuous improvement,” said Berdon.

The following information was provided March 22 in press release issued by the Branford BOE search committee:

The search committee of the Branford Board of Education is recommending the selection of Dr. Christopher Tranberg, Ph. D., of the Darien Public Schools as the next Superintendent of the Branford Public School System. Pending full Board approval, Dr. Tranberg will begin work July 1, 2023. He will succeed Hamlet Hernandez who announced his retirement last year after thirteen years as superintendent.

Dr. Tranberg is Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Darien schools. He has held the position since 2020. Prior to Darien, Dr. Tranberg held a number of administrative positions in Connecticut school systems including; Assistant Superintendent in Granby, Principal of Avon High School, Assistant Principal of Simsbury High School, and the Director of Performing Arts for Simsbury Public Schools.

“Joining the Branford Public Schools as Superintendent is the opportunity of a lifetime. I instantly felt welcomed by the Board. The District has a reputation for excellence paired with a clear desire and passion to accomplish great things for students; there is no combination better. I look forward to meeting students, staff, and families and working collaboratively with the community for many years to come.” Dr. Tranberg said.

Dr. Tranberg worked for several years as an elementary school music teacher in school systems in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Ohio before pursuing his career as a public-school administrator. The Board’s selection committee was impressed with his commitment to providing access to learning for all students and to building a professional learning culture that creates the best teachers and system leaders.

“We see Dr. Tranberg as the perfect candidate to build on the successes of Superintendent Hernandez who has effectively led Branford schools through some of the most challenging times in our history,” said Board Chair Peter Berdon. “Dr. Tranberg’s philosophy of continuous improvement and collaboration with all stakeholders works well with the tenants of our current strategic planning.”

“I’m very pleased the Board’s search committee found a strong candidate who can take over the important work of the school District,” said Superintendent Hernandez. “Dr Tranberg’s experience and philosophy will provide for a smooth transition. I would like to thank the Board and Town for the opportunity to serve as its Superintendent, and to express my profound appreciation to the staff for their remarkable work over the last thirteen years.”

Dr. Tranberg earned his Ph. D. In Educational Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He holds a Master’s Degree (MMEd) from the University of Hartford, a Bachelor’s Degree(BME) from Baldwin-Wallace University, and he is a graduate of the Sacred Heart Universities’ Superintendent Certificate Program.

Dr. Tranberg is an active presenter and consultant in the areas of strategic planning and organizational improvement, curriculum development, measurement and evaluation, teacher collaboration, and music education. He is co-author of First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk and the upcoming Conversational Solfege with Orff Schulwerk published by GIA.