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Miranda To Replace Perez As Hartford School Board Leader

JODIE MOZDZER

February 18, 2009

On the surface, board of education member Ada Miranda appears quiet, contemplative. Her calm demeanor has been known to help settle an upset parent or balance more excited board members.

In addition, colleagues said this week, Miranda's leadership skills are strong.

"Ada is a dynamic leader," board member Sharon Patterson-Stallings said. "She's quiet because she's directing. She's really feeding the chair. She's telling the chair where to go, and making sure everything stays on line."

Now it's Miranda, 57 and a native of Puerto Rico, who will be leading the board. On Tuesday, she was elected chairwoman, replacing Mayor Eddie A. Perez, who stepped down from his leadership roles on the board of education and the school building committee this week. Miranda previously was the school board's vice chairwoman.

With little fanfare, the board unanimously elected Miranda, Elizabeth Brad Noel as vice chairwoman, David MacDonald as second vice chairman and Pamela Richmond as secretary.

Tuesday morning, members of the school building committee appointed former school official John Motley — Perez's hand-picked successor — to a vacancy on that panel. Motley, who did not attend the the meeting, will be named chairman of the committee at its March session.

Though Perez asked Miranda to take over the chairmanship of the school board, Miranda said she had hoped to serve in that position since being appointed to the panel in 2002.

Miranda is a former special-education teacher who worked in Boston and New York with students in kindergarten through fifth grade. She is now the assistant director for human resources for the Capitol Region Education Council. Miranda is married to Miguel Matos, the administrative operations manager for the city. They have a 12-year-old daughter.

Miranda, who was appointed by Perez, has also has served as the board's secretary. In 2006, Miranda received the María C. Sanchez Educator Service Award for her role on the board.

"Regardless of whatever else is going on in the periphery, this is a great time to step into the role," Miranda said. "Everybody's really focused on the bottom line, which is the achievement gap and our kids."

On the surface, board of education member Ada Miranda appears quiet, contemplative. Her calm demeanor has been known to help settle an upset parent or balance more excited board members.

In addition, colleagues said this week, Miranda's leadership skills are strong.

"Ada is a dynamic leader," board member Sharon Patterson-Stallings said. "She's quiet because she's directing. She's really feeding the chair. She's telling the chair where to go, and making sure everything stays on line."

Now it's Miranda, 57 and a native of Puerto Rico, who will be leading the board. On Tuesday, she was elected chairwoman, replacing Mayor Eddie A. Perez, who stepped down from his leadership roles on the board of education and the school building committee this week. Miranda previously was the school board's vice chairwoman.

With little fanfare, the board unanimously elected Miranda, Elizabeth Brad Noel as vice chairwoman, David MacDonald as second vice chairman and Pamela Richmond as secretary.

Tuesday morning, members of the school building committee appointed former school official John Motley — Perez's hand-picked successor — to a vacancy on that panel. Motley, who did not attend the the meeting, will be named chairman of the committee at its March session.

Though Perez asked Miranda to take over the chairmanship of the school board, Miranda said she had hoped to serve in that position since being appointed to the panel in 2002.

Miranda is a former special-education teacher who worked in Boston and New York with students in kindergarten through fifth grade. She is now the assistant director for human resources for the Capitol Region Education Council. Miranda is married to Miguel Matos, the administrative operations manager for the city. They have a 12-year-old daughter.

Miranda, who was appointed by Perez, has also has served as the board's secretary. In 2006, Miranda received the María C. Sanchez Educator Service Award for her role on the board.

"Regardless of whatever else is going on in the periphery, this is a great time to step into the role," Miranda said. "Everybody's really focused on the bottom line, which is the achievement gap and our kids."