Superintendent's Corner

Mrs. Irene Cornish was appointed Stratford Superintendent of Schools in February 2004.  She earned her B.A. from the University of Connecticut in Secondary Education with concentrations in French and Spanish and her M.A. from Central Connecticut State University in French. 

Mrs. Cornish also did advanced graduate study in Supervision and Evaluation (Secondary level) at the University of Connecticut.  Mrs. Cornish earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.  She has over thirty-six years in education starting in 1963 as a French / Spanish teacher at Rockville High, Vernon, CT. 

Mrs. Cornish also taught French / Spanish at Tolland High, Tolland, CT where she was also Foreign Language Department Chairman. 

From 1978 to 1987, Mrs. Cornish was an Assistant Principal at Bloomfield High, Bloomfield, CT. 

From 1987 to 1994 she practiced law in Vernon, CT  and became a partner in the firm of Marder, Kallet, and Cornish. 

In October 1994 , Mrs. Cornish returned to the education field after being asked to join the Boston University / Chelsea Partnership in Chelsea, Massachusetts as Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services for the Chelsea Public Schools. She was appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Chelsea Public Schools in 2000. 

Mrs. Cornish has served as an adjunct faculty member of Boston University’s School of Education from 2000 through summer 2004 where she taught a graduate level course on personnel management and labor relations.

Mrs. Cornish has served on numerous boards and foundations and is a member of the Stratford Rotary Club and the Board of Directors of Beardsley Zoo, as well as several professional organizations. 

In May 2006, Mrs. Cornish received the Links' Diamond Award from the Milford, CT Chapter of Links in recognition of exemplary service to family, profession, and community. 

In recognition of her consistent contributions to the quality of life for all Stratford citizens and beyond, she was placed on the Town of Stratford's first Wall of Honor in 2008. 

In May 2008, Mrs. Cornish was the recipient of the Educational Advocacy Award from Children's Community Programs of Connecticut, Inc. 

In December 2008, Mrs. Cornish was a member of the Connecticut State Department of Education's delegation to Shandong province in China.  

In January 2009, Mrs. Cornish received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Delta Phi Chapter. 

In October 2009, Mrs. Cornish served as Co-Chair of the United Way's Healthy Baby Diaper Drive for Coastal Fairfield County, New Haven County, and Western CT.

In December 2009, she received the Connecticut Yankee Council Learning For Life Good Citizen Award.