Fritz Chery
STAMFORD — In high school Fritz Chery was the kid who did everything.
For four years at Stamford High School Chery played on the football team, participated in the marching band and performed in the drama club. Intermixed Chery partook in the baseball team, concert choir and more clubs than he can count.
“Stamford Public Schools gave me everything,” said Chery, 31.
He worries that those same programs that fostered him are now under threat, however, which is why Chery said he’s running on the Democratic ticket for a seat on the
Stamford Board of Education this November.
“I feel I have to run because if I don’t, who else is going to start talking about what made Stamford Public Schools great, and why they are great?” said Chery.
For example, the high school band has become smaller since his days in the group, Chery said, positing that a lack of resources for the arts at the middle school level contributed to the shrinking high school program.
After graduating from Stamford High in 2006, Chery went on to earn a degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and then returned to Stamford. He works in commercial real estate for WEB Realty Company in Norwalk, and in 2017 founded Grace Daycare and Learning Center on Washington Boulevard, which serves more than 60 students.
Despite his multiple jobs, Chery said his positions have flexibility and he’s delegated much of the work at the daycare to a director.
“I plan on giving the Board of Education all of my time,” said Chery.
If elected, Chery hopes to use creative measures to boost school programs, which he said doesn’t always mean more dollar signs for city taxpayers.
“It could be as easy as reaching out to see what high school students want to go to the middle schools and talk to younger kids about getting involved,” said Chery.
Partnering with local corporations is another way to sponsor school programs, such as after school tutoring to bridge the achievement gap, without putting a greater burden on taxpayers, he said.
Aside from maintaining school extracurriculars, Chery’s first priority if elected would be to address the mold crisis in Stamford schools, he said.
With a background in commercial real estate, property management and leases and contracts, Chery said he has the skills the district needs to navigate challenges with facilities management and mold remediation, which he’s overseen in large commercial buildings as part of his work.
Chery also hopes to improve Stamford schools’ public image if elected.
“I think right now this mold issue has made a lot of people lose faith in Stamford schools. I want to see what we can do to change the narrative and better market Stamford schools,” he said.
Chery said he’d work with school administration to craft a plan to sell Stamford schools to families, such as those who attend his daycare but move to surrounding towns once their kids hit kindergarten. Social media should be utilized to highlight success stories in Stamford schools,
Fritz Chery
Party: Democrat
Age: 31
Incumbent: No
Current job: Founder, Grace Daycare & Learning Center Education: Stamford High School, bachelor’s degree from University of Connecticut, working on a graduate degree at Fairfield University
The most important issue in this election: Current Property Management contracts as well as current and/or future Commercial Real Estate Leases and Contracts.
Other issues: Current Property Management contracts as well as current and/or future Commercial Real Estate Leases and Contracts.
Family: I was born and raised in Stamford, and the entire Chery family resides in Stamford, CT.
Previous elected offices, community group affiliations: Youth Leader and Member of the French Speaking Baptist Church of Stamford
said Chery.
While winning a spot on the school board is his goal for this year, Chery’s longterm plan is to teach and mentor high school students in the same way many of his teachers at Stamford High helped him grow. Currently Chery is working towards his masters in American Studies at
Fairfield University in pursuit of that mission.
“My end goal after all of this is to teach high school history,” Chery said, adding, “If I ever have the privilege to teach in Stamford I’m going to jump on that opportunity.”