Last week, the Rochester School Board approved a series of senior leadership changes that will take effect over the next several months. I am writing to provide you with an update on those decisions and explain how these changes are intended to strengthen Rochester Public Schools moving forward.
First, I want to acknowledge that decisions involving the elimination or restructuring of leadership positions are deeply difficult. These changes affect respected colleagues who have served Rochester Public Schools with dedication and care. I am grateful for their contributions to our students, families, and staff, and I recognize that transitions of this kind can be challenging for those directly impacted and for coworkers across the district.
The reductions and reorganization outlined in this message have been designed to mitigate the major financial challenges our school district faces in the years ahead. The RPS Finance Department projects that the updated plan outlined in this message will save the district $442,175 for the 2026-2027 school year.
Following the School Board's vote at last week’s meeting, Jacque Peterson will assume the position of Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. In her new role as COO, Jacque will oversee Facilities, Finance, Policy and Innovation, Student Nutrition Services, Technology, and Transportation. Starting July 1, 2026, Jacque will also supervise the Department of Communications, which includes both Language Interpretation Services and Registration and Records.
With Jacque Peterson's transition to COO, I will recommend that the RPS School Board approve the appointment of Eric Johnson as Chief of Schools at the School Board meeting on May 7, 2026. Chosen through a rigorous interview process, Eric will support our principals, guide the School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP) process, and lead our school safety and crisis response initiatives.
Looking ahead, the following changes will be effective on July 1, 2026:
The positions of Executive Director of Community Education and Partnerships, Executive Director of Family Engagement and Youth Empowerment, Director of Positive Behavioral Supports, and Director of School Leadership and Improvement will be discontinued.
Amy Eich will assume the position of Director of Community Education, supported by state Community Education funding.
Will Ruffin II will assume a new role as Special Advisor to the Superintendent for Student Engagement, funded through a state grant focused on reducing chronic absenteeism. In this capacity, he will work across schools and departments—and directly with students—to support engagement and motivation to learn.
Angi McAndrews will begin service as the Executive Director of Learning Environments and will lead an integrated department focused on strengthening learning conditions across the district. Angi was also selected through a rigorous interview process that concluded last week. The new department that she will lead will bring together functions that are currently distributed across multiple areas, including American Indian Education, attendance and truancy coordination, Community Education, community partnerships, family engagement and family support, health services, homeless education, positive behavioral supports, student wellbeing and mental health, and youth empowerment.
This week, we are launching a search for the new position of Director of Equity and Organizational Development. The position will focus on ensuring that our core systems—including budgeting, staffing, curriculum, and school improvement—are designed to improve outcomes for students facing the greatest barriers to learning. The description and job posting are available on our website, and I strongly encourage people who have the skills and experience to strengthen the capacity of Rochester Public Schools to meet the needs of students from marginalized communities to apply.
Moments of transition bring both uncertainty and opportunity. My commitment is that these decisions will be implemented thoughtfully, respectfully, and with a clear focus on what matters most: stronger schools, better support for staff, and improved outcomes for students.
Achieving our ambitious goals for the years ahead will require disciplined use of resources, clear accountability, and strong collaboration across every part of our system. I am confident that these leadership changes better position us to do that work.
Sincerely,
Kent Pekel, Ed.D.