RESIGNATION LETTER FROM DR. STEPHEN ZRIKE SUPERINTENDENT OF HOLYOKE SCHOOLS Dec. 19, 2019 Dear students, families, staff, partners, community members, and friends of the Holyoke Public Schools: |.am writing to inform you that following the most rewarding and challenging experience in my career, | have notified Commissioner Riley that | wil step down as receiver in June 2020. It will mark the end of five years serving Holyoke, a commitment that | made to then-Commissioner Chester and the ‘community when I was appointed in June 2015, One thing has guided me above everything else in my role here - what is best for the students of Holyoke Public Schools ~ and I believe itis time for the district to move forward with a new receiver. Additionally, | am in the process of pursuing other roles in education closer to my home, positions that | hope will enable me to spend more time with my wife and children, | am proud of what Holyoke Public Schools has accomplished over the last four-plus years through the steadfast commitment and collective efforts of the community. We have seen significant increases in our graduation rate and decreases in our dropout rate, reduced chronic absenteeism, more than doubled access to pre-kindergarten programming and dual enrollment offerings for students, launched themed academies at the high school level, reinvested in our career-vocational programming, expanded our dual language pathways, opened two new middle schools (STEM and Veritas) and had the majority of schools make important progress on the state’s new accountability system. We have gone @ long way toward creating schoo! learning environments that celiver on the promise of a pathway of excellence for every student [At the same time, there is much work still to do in Holyoke as we try to ensure that al students graduate prepared to excel in college, career and community leadership. More specifically, we must continue to deliver on our four priorities: ‘* Provide high-quality instruction and stucent-specific supports for all students; ‘+ Expand and strengthen innovative, high interest pathways for students; ‘Strengthen two-way communication with families to understand, promote and enhance the learning and growth of their children; and * Create a culture across the school system in which educators have an active voice, collaborate frequently and communicate effectively in our efforts to accelerate all students’ learning and growth. There will be more detailsin the coming weeks and months regarding the changes ahead. | will work closely with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the community to ensure that the transition to a new leader for the Holyoke Public Schools will be smooth. | have tremendous confidence that the district’s current staff and leadership team will continue to move the district, forward under a new leader. itis an honor ard privilege to serve the children and families of Holyoke. | am consistently humbled by the individuals who make this incredible community whatit is. You have already demonstrated that, by working together, extraordinary progress is possible. | am grateful for your support over the last five years, and | look forward to the important work that remains during the rest of the 2019-20 school year! Sincerely,