Welcome Back Notice - Dr. Harry R. Thomas III
Posted on 07/17/2023
Dear Essex Schools’ Family:
I write to you with contagious enthusiasm about the promise and possibilities of the coming school year.
Approximately 30 days from now, our school campuses will once again be buzzing with our beloved
Essex students. Our relentless focus on quality teaching and learning continues to yield results as
evidenced by achievement gains over the prior school year. As many of you know by now, two of our
three schools are fully accredited, with the high school poised to achieve full accreditation status,
particularly with the change in our grade level configuration.
On Monday June 12, the Essex County School Board voted unanimously to change the current grade
articulation for 4th and 8th grade students. TES and JCIS staff members are working incredibly hard to
open each building for 4th and 8th grade students in a manner that will facilitate an enhanced student
experience. We are excited about our grade articulation change as it serves as a response to the
difficulties we have observed these students experience, both behaviorally and academically.
As has been discussed, collaborated and debated from School Board meetings, to editorials in the
newspapers and even discussions via social media channels, ECPS has experienced an uptick in teacher
turnover. The current turnover is a confluence of two primary issues (in addition to individual personal
matters), a more transient teacher market, and an insistence by the ECPS division on structures needed
for quality teaching to ensure accreditation. We have reflected on the demands placed upon our
teachers and will seek a better balance between the challenges of teaching and the support our staff
members have requested and deserve.
Additional feedback from teachers has been captured in exit interviews, focus groups, and individual
conversations; and as such, student discipline continues to be an issue of concern for ECPS and has also
been mentioned as a reason some of our faculty members have decided to leave. While I feel that we
have taken a strict stance on discipline across the school division, more needs to be done. We would like to partner with our families and commit to improved behaviors that allow for better climate and
harmony in our schools. Collectively, parents and ECPS staff shall work together toward the aim of
better schools for our children.
In conclusion, we believe the 2023-24 school year promises to be notable and noteworthy. Our motto
for the year is to “Embrace Excellence.” This motto captures the notion that while we are proud of our
progress, there is yet more to do. We recognize that students, parents, teachers, staff and
administrators must work more cooperatively to continue our onward and upward trajectory of success.
Let’s all do our part to ensure that Essex students receive an education that is indeed excellent!
Yours,
Dr. Harry R. Thomas III
Division Superintendent, Essex County Public Schools