Leslie Torres-Rodriguez

Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodríguez is a nationally recognized education leader, strategist, and advisor, known for transforming public education systems through innovation, student-centered design, and community-rooted leadership. A proud graduate of Hartford Public Schools, her journey from Puerto Rico to becoming Superintendent and CEO of the very district that shaped her reflects her deep belief in the transformative power of education. 

She recently completed an eight-year tenure—the longest of any woman in Hartford Public Schools’ history—leading one of the most inclusive school redesign efforts in the country. Through a co-created consolidation process, she expanded access to high-quality learning environments while improving long-term sustainability. In collaboration with school and district teams, she advanced integration, access, and system coherence through innovative programming and holistic student supports. Under her leadership, the district achieved record-breaking student outcomes, including a 10-point increase in graduation rates and a 17-point increase for students whose first language is not English. She launched early college and career pathways, expanded dual-enrollment and AP access, modernized school buildings, and more than doubled the number of full-service Community Schools. She also successfully mitigated multi-million-dollar deficits, reinvesting resources to expand student supports and upgrade facilities.

She currently serves as President-Elect of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), lectures at Yale University, and is a Trustee of Trinity College. Her board service also includes Connecticut Children’s Hospital, Social Impact Partners for Connecticut, and the American Heart Association. She was honored as the ALAS National Latino Superintendent of the Year, received Prospanica’s Brillante Award for Educational Excellence, and was named one of Education Week’s “Leaders to Learn From.”

Dr. Torres-Rodríguez holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University and both a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. She lives in Hartford with her husband and two sons and maintains strong ties to her family and community in Puerto Rico.