Interview: Dr. Ehren Jarrett leaves Rockford schools after 13-year tenure

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Dr. Ehren Jarrett is stepping down as superintendent of Rockford Public Schools (RPS 205) after 13 years, marking the end of the longest tenure in the district in 60 years.

Dr. Jarrett, who began his role in 2013, has overseen significant improvements in the district, including an increase in graduation rates from 61% to 74% and enhancements in school facilities.

“I’m proud I’ve been able to bring stability to the district during my tenure as superintendent,” said Dr. Jarrett. “My goal is to make sure I can leave this place as positively as possible in my last year.”

Dr. Jarrett emphasized the importance of goal setting and having a shared vision during his tenure, saying, “What I’ve learned is the importance of goal setting, of having a shared vision, of having a standard that you apply to yourself but also to your teammates.”

Under his leadership, the district not only saw improvements in student achievement but also in the physical infrastructure, with new schools, expanded libraries, and air conditioning in every building.

Dr. Jarrett expressed his hope for continued progress, stating, “I think we have a really good chance to get it to 80 percent by the time I leave at the end of the year.”

He has accepted a new position as superintendent for Hononegah Schools, while RPS 205 has begun the search for his successor.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.