This has been a most challenging year transitions for my family and me, for I loss my mother who has transcended into her everlasting life of endless love for eternity.  But then again my wife and I have been blessed with another grandson, and the beat goes on.  Due to his illness (Alzheimer’s), my dad is unable to be here this evening.  When I informed him that I was going to retire and asked for his advice, he simply said, “That sounds good.  Now what are you going to do?”  “Don’t worry, things will work out and be alright – just remember to pay the bills.”

I am thankful for a firm foundation buttressed by my family, church, education and community.

Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges and increasing demands, I thank you, my colleagues, for your tireless efforts to provide effective leadership wherein all of our students will have the opportunity to achieve mastery in literacy, math , science, social studies and high order thinking competency.  Under Superintendent Ramos’ leadership, we have galvanized a leadership team spirit which focuses on raising student achievement along with a strong commitment to social and emotional development of our students. Such reaffirms my faith in the deep sustenance within us to focus on what’s best for our children, despite the woes of budget cuts and adverse politics of adults.

At times, it seems like too many individuals from all walks of life claim to be educational pundits, who try to tell us how to do our jobs, while expecting us to do more with less. Through it all, I implore you to continue to provide effective Leadership Through Service Opening Doorways to Learning for All Students by valuing a professional attitude and a collaborative process of communication, which include the following:  respect, honesty, support, civility, trust, diversity, equity and caring, as prescribed by our social contract.

As I reflect upon my career in Bridgeport, successes out weigh the failures in spite of challenges, the majority of which were beyond the control of those who toiled day in and day out.  Throughout the years there have been many who have been positively impacted and benefited from education despite an unleveled playing field.  Schools have received state and federal recognition for academic growth and performance.  We will have opened four new schools, at a cost of approximately one half billion dollars.  Our district’s back-to-back recognition as a national finalist for the Broad Prize for Urban Education in 2006 and 2007 is an affirmation of our talented students, poised for significant academic growth and development, given increased instructional rigor, data driven decision making, refinement of common formative assessment and the replication of hig h quality instruction, buttressed by social/social emotional support.

I am thankful and proud to have been a product of and service to the greater Bridgeport Schools and community.  Once again, I am most appreciative and grateful for your presence, support and all you have done.

Henry R. Kelly