Milford School Superintendent Huizenga Resigns

MILFORD, NH — The Milford School District will begin looking for a new superintendent after its current leader offered her resignation Wednesday.

Jessica Huizenga, in an email to the SAU 40 district, said she had let the school board know she would be resigning at the end of the current school year "to pursue other opportunities" after "much thought and discussion with my family."

Huizenga, who was hired in 2018, said she was honored to serve the district, working alongside "such talented educators, staff, and an extraordinary administrative team in carrying out the important responsibility of providing an excellent education to our students, while making fiscally-responsible choices to the benefit of the taxpaying community." She thanked members of the community, including parents and town leaders, for their desire to improve the school system and for their support. Huizenga said she was proud to have worked to develop a 10-year strategic plan for the district as well updating policies, improve on curriculum, technology, and instruction, and more open communications while also leading the district through the coronavirus pandemic. She also expanded the district's social-emotional staff.

"I feel a great sense of satisfaction leaving Milford stronger, and well poised to reach the vision and mission set forth by the strategic plan," Huizenga said. "I sincerely appreciate the professional and personal growth this position has required of me due to my experiences here. I am also grateful for the life-long friendships that have come from my time in Milford. I hope that you are able to build upon the many successes we have shared going forward."

District employees, a year into Huizenga's tenure, complained about leadership in the school system after she made changes and dozens had resigned. But some town residents supported the changes she brought to the district.

Huizenga was hired in Milford after working three years as an assistant superintendent in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and working a year as an interim superintendent and two years as an assistant superintendent for the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District. Huizenga was also a principal in Westford and Holliston, MA.

While in Cambridge, she was criticized, and later apologized, for plagiarizing from the CambridgeDay.com website and other sources on her curriculum blog. About a year later, she was appointed as a receiver by the state of Massachusetts to lead the Southbridge School District. About a year into the receivership position, after making a number of changes, some that were popular and others that were not, she was placed on leave. Huizenga later resigned but no explanation was given for the leave or resignation, according to published reports online.

Huizenga, according to reports online, has been a finalist for other positions around the Bay State in the past.

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