Boston superintendent Brenda Cassellius announces plans to resign

Casselllius, who has led the district since July 2019, will depart in June; she says the pandemic and "escalating racial division and civil unrest" played a large part in her decision.

Feb. 7, 2022

Boston school superintendent Brenda Cassellius has announced that she is resigning at the end of the school year in June.

The Boston Herald reports that Cassellius cited several factors in her decision, including the pandemic and the "escalating racial division and civil unrest."

The decision comes after several days of conversations Cassellius had with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who was elected in November, and School Committee Chairwoman Jeri Robinson.

“Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has given Boston three years of strong leadership and service, and we are a better city for it,” Wu said in a statement. “I am grateful for the superintendent’s leadership, especially while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Her vision and relentless focus as a champion for our young people and for equity has helped [the district] move forward on needed structural changes within our district."

Cassellius began in July 2019 as Boston superintendent.

Prior to leading Boston schools, Cassellius served as Minnesota Commissioner of Education for the state of Minnesota from 2011 to 2019.