Office of Schools and Learning

Dr. Carlettra Stanford, Assistant Superintendent of Office of Schools and Learning

Carlettra Stanford is a cabinet member and oversees the associate superintendents of schools. Previously, she served as Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools for the  four years. Prior to this role, she had the honor of being the Principal of Mendota Elementary School, one of MMSD’s first community schools, for 10 years. With over 29 years of dedication to MMSD, Ms. Stanford has held a myriad roles including principal, school-wide facilitator, literacy coach, and teacher.

Ms. Stanford is an MMSD alumna, graduating from Madison East High School, home of the Purgolders. She went on to attend the prestigious Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, before earning her Master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She obtained her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

An active community member, she has served on numerous committees and boards. Her contributions to the community, the field of education, and promotion of educational equity have been acknowledged through many awards and recognitions, including the Luminaira Award for Leadership for Equity and Excellence, Lois Gadd Nemec Outstanding Alumnae Award, Milt McPike Education Award, nominee for MMSD Principal of the Year, and most recently Charles Hamilton Houston Institute Difference Maker Award for Outstanding Service in Education. She has also presented at various national educational conferences focused on literacy and educational equity.