Roberts to resign as Millcreek schools superintendent June 30
Ian Roberts has resigned as Millcreek schools superintendent.
In a notice to staff and parents Friday, Roberts said that he will resign from the position effective June 30 to "move on and continue my work in a different community."
Roberts did not announce where he will work. He has been offered a job outside Pennsylvania, Millcreek Township School Board President Gary Winschel said.
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"He has a good opportunity, and while it will be bittersweet to see him leave, he will be going to a much larger school district," Winschel said.
Winschel praised the work that Roberts has done in Millcreek in three years on the job. Roberts was hired by the Millcreek Township School Board after a national search to replace William Hall, who retired from the position in January 2020.
Roberts began duties in the 6,400-student district at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in summer 2020, and recently earned high grades in a mid-academic year evaluation by the School Board, Winschel said.
"Dr. Roberts has been a great leader," Winschel said. "He set up some truly foundational things in our district, including encouraging administrators to be instructional leaders, as he said he would do when we first interviewed him. Administrators do instructional rounds in every building, and every building really knows specific details about what's expected."
Roberts has formed strong relationships with staff members, students, parents, district labor units and the community, Winschel said.
"We've been fortunate to have him here as long as we have," Winschel said.
Roberts, in his statement to staff and community, said that he looks forward to new challenges.
"While I will miss Millcreek Township greatly, I am excited to take on new challenges and opportunities in my career to serve students, educators, and a community," Roberts said.
The decision to leave Millcreek is "without a doubt one of the most difficult professional and personal decisions that I have ever made," Roberts said. "I am sad to leave behind such wonderful and rewarding work, this school board, a warm and an amazing community, and dedicated school leaders, teachers, and staff. The children that I have grown to know, love, and spent quality time with from Pre-K to 12th grade will forever be in my thoughts and heart."
Roberts previously was chief schools officer of Aspire Public Schools, a California charter schools system. He also was an administrator with St. Louis Public Schools in Missouri and in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the South Bronx in New York.
Striving to build community: Millcreek schools Superintendent Ian Roberts
A native of Guyana, Roberts also was a world-class athlete, competing as a middle-distance runner in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and world championships in Japan and Spain.
Roberts pledged to work with Millcreek Township School District leaders to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. School directors are expected to meet soon to discuss steps forward.
"I expect that we will get the board together, probably next week, to see what our next steps will be and to name someone to work with him as we go forward with a search for a new superintendent," Winschel said Friday.
Trevor Murnock was named assistant schools superintendent Monday, before Roberts informed the School Board of his coming resignation. Previously an administrator in the Girard School District, Murnock was hired as Millcreek acting assistant superintendent in August.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ian Roberts will resign as Millcreek schools superintendent June 30
