New Haven principal leaving for Fairfield schools job
NEW HAVEN — Zakia Parrish, principal of Hill Regional Career High School since 2016, will begin an executive role in Fairfield Public Schools July 1.
In a note to parents of the school, Parrish shared her “heartfelt words” that she will be leaving her position as principal.
“I have loved serving as Principal at Career over the past four years and have learned a lot from our parents and students,” she said in the brief letter.
Her new role, executive director of operations and processes for Fairfield Public Schools, begins July 1.
“This is a new position. The primary responsibility of the position is to review existing and proposed processes and make them more effective,” said Fairfield Superintendent of Schools Mike Cummings. “How can we ensure that everything we do is supportive of the work of staff and parents? Dr. Parrish will work with all stakeholders to solve problems, develop consistent methods of doing our work, and ensure that the great percentage of tax dollars are being spent in support of student learning.”
As principal of Career, Parrish oversaw implementation of Connecticut RISE, a data-driven program funded by the Dalio Foundation that drew sharp criticism from some parent advocates who worried about giving student data to programs operated by private philanthropists. Under her leadership, students at Career also staged a walkout near the end of the 2019 school year after they learned that two popular teachers were selected to be transferred out of the school. The decision was made by Parrish, at the behest of former Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks, who ordered principals to transfer a number of teachers out of their schools to eliminate 53 jobs as a cost-saving measure.
Since Parrish took over, the four-year gradation rate at Career High School increased by more than 8 points, from 86.4 percent to 94.6 percent.