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Date: 8/2/2022
HOLYOKE – In working to support the implementation of the district’s new strategic plan, the Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) have announced two new leadership changes.
McMahon School Principal Rebecca Thompson was promoted to executive director of academics, while Morgan School Principal Steven Moguel will now work dual roles, supporting anti-racism and equity work at the district level.
According to a press release from HPS, Thompson has served as principal of McMahon School since 2020 and has embraced HPS’s partnership with the Relay Graduate School of Education and leading her students and staff to improved outcomes for learners. In her new role, Thompson will work closely with the Office of School Leadership and Pupil Services to ensure cohesion and alignment across all departments that support student learning.
“Rebecca Thompson brings a school leader’s mindset to the districtwide work she’ll be leading on curriculum, instruction and assessment, and will use that mindset to effectively support and push our peers as we work to raise the bar for our teachers and students,” said Assistant Superintendent Stephen Mahoney.
Thompson will now be overseeing curriculum, tiered instruction and assessment from grades pre-K-12.
McMahon Assistant Principal Kate Ritchie will serve as McMahon’s interim principal for the 2022-2023 school year.
Moguel has been Morgan School’s principal for the past four years and as the school’s leader has supported a culture of equity with his staff and throughout the school. The school has been and is currently under the category of underperforming from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but has seen improvements under Moguel’s tenure, as recently reported by Reminder Publishing.
Under his leadership, Morgan School has continued to transform into a space where staff address personal and systemic biases, openly learn about, understand and work to transform embedded structures that have created opportunity gaps for marginalized Holyoke students, according to the HPS press release.
“Steve Moguel brings a profound commitment to equity and culturally responsive teaching and leading to his leadership at Morgan Elementary, and we are grateful to begin elevating those strengths to our district wide work,” said Mahoney.
The district has been working on a Strategic Plan for the schools to improve areas and bring themselves out of state receivership. The plan reflects all the work done under the turnaround plan over the last almost seven years, and articulates focus for the next few years.
With both announcements, district leadership is looking to continue an upward trend in growth for the district, according to Mahoney.
“Both Steve and Rebecca have and continue to walk the talk, and I hope we are able to amplify their contributions to HPS students and families in the coming years,” said Mahoney.