Dr. Rydell Harrison, superintendent of the Easton, Redding and Region 9 Schools, resigned his position in a June 25 message to the Tri-Boards of Education. He assumed the position in August 2020, following the retirement of Dr. Thomas McMorran.
Following is his message of resignation:
Dear members of the Easton, Redding and Region 9 Boards of Education,
Thank you for your unanimous approval of my contract extension through June 30, 2024. After significant reflection and careful consideration, I have decided not to extend my contract with ER9 and to tender my resignation effective September 23, 2021.
While this past school year has been challenging for all educators, I have been faced with a number of unique challenges as ER9’s superintendent that led me to question whether or not the role was a good fit for me.
Throughout my leadership career, I have worked hard to approach my work as a student-centered educator first and an administrator second.
Unfortunately, ER9’s structure made it more difficult than I anticipated for me to strike the right balance between advancing my aspirational goals for education and handling the administrative tasks of three separate school districts.
Rather than continuing forward, I have decided to pursue opportunities outside of a traditional K-12 setting that will allow me to fully engage my passion for education and commitment to improving outcomes for all students without the heavy burdens of district administration.
As we go forward, please know that I remain committed to the work we’ve started and will provide unwavering support as the Boards prepare for this upcoming transition.
Best,
Rydell
