Sarah Barzee

Overview

Sarah Barzee is a highly effective and proven leader in education, with extensive experience and expertise working with state, regional, and local educational agencies to improve outcomes for students across the PK–12 education system. As the Senior Director of State Education Services and Director of the Region 2 Comprehensive Center, Barzee works closely with Chief State School Officers, other SEA leaders, and partners to support strategy development, strategic planning, capacity building, and implementation to address identified high-leverage problems.

As director of the Region 2 Comprehensive Center (R2CC), Barzee provides strategic direction for the center and supports staff to ensure high-quality project development and management and superb client service to the Region 2 states. In this role, Barzee also led a large R2CC team to conduct a research and inquiry process to inform NY’s Graduation Measures initiative. Findings were reported in a 2022 report and informed recommendations developed by NY’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. Barzee has also supported transformational work in Delaware by providing facilitation for the state’s Public Education Compensation Committee (PECC). Pursuant to Senate Bill 100, PECC made recommendations to increase compensation for educators. As a result, Governor Carney included $45.2 million to increase public education salaries in his recommended fiscal year 2025 budget. Barzee also supports DE’s Teacher Career Ladder Working Group, a subcommittee of PECC.

Before joining WestEd, Barzee was a chief talent officer at the Connecticut State Department where she led numerous statewide initiatives to strengthen CT’s educator workforce. Before CSDE, Barzee served as an assistant executive director at the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) and as an associate director at CT’s State Education Resource Center (SERC). Before transitioning to senior leadership roles, Barzee taught for 11 years in Florida public schools and with the Department of Defense and served as a special education teacher and school administrator in several privately approved special education schools in Connecticut.

Education

• Executive Leadership Program, University of Connecticut
• PhD, leadership, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
• CAGS, educational administration and supervision, University of Hartford, CT
• MA, special education, Saint Joseph College, Hartford, CT
• BS, special education, Saint Joseph College, Hartford, CT

Select Publications

Barzee, Sarah J. (2008). The school experiences and achievement of Black males: The voice of the students. [Dissertation]. Andrews University

Region 2 Comprehensive Center. (2022). Graduation requirements and measures: A review conducted for the New York State Board of Regents and the New York State Education Department. WestEd.

Honors, Awards, and Affiliations

University of Saint Joseph Distinguished Alumni Award, 2012
Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut, Executive Leadership Program, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018
Neag School of Education, Dean’s Board of Advocates (past)
University of Hartford, Education, College of Education, Nursing, and Health Professions, Dean’s Board of Visitors (present)