Overview
A graduate of Lyman Hall High School, Dr. Hoag has spent much of his 40-year career teaching, coaching, researching, administering and creating programs for Black and Latino students in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Having coordinated some of the largest student organizations in Connecticut, his ten years of intensive research in the development of the “All-Student Construct” led him to identify, address and overcome the “assumptions of education” in his work on the local and state levels, leading to the awarding of his Ph.D. in 2005.
UNDERGRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS
Central Connecticut State University
- Served as President of Phi Alpha Rho Fraternity (1970-71)
- Served as President of the CCSU Inter-Greek Council (1971)
- Served as President of the CCSU DECA Chapter (1971-1972)
- Serves as National President of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (1973-74)
- 1973 – Connecticut Outstanding Marketing student Award
- 1974 - Collegiate Student of the Year
- 1974 – President’s Award for Leadership & Service
NORRISTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL
(Pennsylvania)
- Led his students to the 1976 (marketing program/DECA Chapter) national No.1 ranking that included twelve #1 ranked student-marketing projects and performances in Pennsylvania and three #1 national student champions.
- In 1977, wrote and produced the second of two student-performed musicals, “Decades of Diamonds” that won national acclaim from educators and performing artists with a performance schedule that included appearances in nine different states.
- In 1977, Greater Philadelphia Teacher of the Year.
LYMAN HALL HIGH SCHOOL
- Served as an assistant football coach longer than any assistant in school history, 1977-1999;
- 1997 - Honored by the Connecticut Football High School Coaches Association as the Connecticut Assistant Coach of the Year;
- Served in numerous capacities including New England Evaluation, annual senior night presentations, Head Coach of Powder Puff;
- Chairman, LHHS Hall of Fame – 1982 to present
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- Recruited to the Connecticut State Department of Education in 1977 to create a statewide student organization, the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America
- State VICA Director for 19 years
- State DECA Advisor for 8 years
- State Advisor for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) for 4 years
- 1988 to 2016 served as state consultant for Marketing Education
- United States Senate Youth Program – Connecticut Coordinator
- Milken Foundation – Teacher Recognition Program – Connecticut Coordinator
- Created the most comprehensive statewide assessment program for Career and Technical Education in the nation, receiving national acclaim.
BASSICK HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT
(Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Led the “school-to-career” school reform demonstration sites that brought him to head the Bassick High School reform project, one of the most ambitious and dramatic school reform initiatives in Connecticut at that time.
- Bassick (94% Black and Latino) was the lowest performing school in Connecticut at that time. Record levels of student and faculty absenteeism, in-school violence, teacher resignations and dramatically low academic performance characterized the problems confronting Bassick.
- The project was the first application of Stephen’s secondary education reform vision, the All-Student Construct. The construct include:
- Mentorships/work-based learning for all students;
- Review of instructional time elements and increased faculty support mechanisms;
- Community based partnerships with business, labor, churches, ethnic fraternities and clubs;
- Comprehensive recognition program for students, faculty, staff, parents and community persons contributing time and expertise to incremental progress.
- (Dramatic Improvement) In one year, Bassick had the student attendance figures by over 60% and faculty attendance by 42%. Grade reports for students increased a full letter grade school-wide in one year.
CONNECTICUT STATEWIDE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT
- In 1998, Stephen created and developed the first statewide assessment program for career and technical education in Connecticut.
- All states by federal statute were required to begin similar assessment programs, but Connecticut was one of only five states that created a statewide assessment program that is the most comprehensive in the nation.
- It was the only state CTE assessment program in the country that includes the contextual application of academic competencies; fully administered on line for all Connecticut secondary schools, testing approximately 10,000 students annually.
DEVELOPING TOMORROW’S PROFESSIONALS (DTP) Program
Stephen designed a comprehensive approach to secondary education, designed specifically for Black and Latino male students. The DTP, a groundbreaking program, designed to prepare young men for a 4-year college education, leading to degree achievement and the selection of a professional pathway includes the development of measured academic skill sets (i.e., critical thinking, speaking and writing), continuous wrap around mentoring, assessment and follow-up.
Awards & Recognition
2025
National Book Award for Whisper of a Kiss
2016
State Community Service Award – Urban League of Greater Hartford
2015
State Board of Education Award of Excellence – Recognition of DTP Program
2013
Silver Eagle Award – Commanders of the Rite, United Supreme Council
2008
Distinguished Alumni Award – Wallingford Education Foundation
2008
National Olivia Award
2007
Inducted, Lyman Hall High School – Hall of Fame
1997
Connecticut Assistant Football Coach of the Year (CHSCA)