Welcome Back to School Newsletter

Welcome Back Message from Dr. Curtis Wright

Good Day Fellow Red Devils of Richmond Community Schools,

Within this annual Back-to-School newsletter, we will feature pertinent information for the 2022 – 2023 school year. However, I first and foremost want to thank our entire school community yet again for the humility, selfless service, and resiliency you exercised throughout the 2021 – 2022 school year.

While the element of inconsistency remained the only consistent aspect of last school year, as a community we all worked hard to ensure the continuance of our collective pursuit of excellence. As we continue to prepare for the 2022 – 2023 school year, I am confident that our faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders are equipped with the necessary attributes to combat any form of adversity that may be upon us. It has been exciting to see so many educators throughout our summer recess engaged in multiple forms of professional development. As we know, the most influential people within our classrooms are our classroom teachers. The fact that educators are retooling their skill sets to improve upon their craft, is an example of our educators' commitment to selfless service. Our community is so fortunate to have a coalition of resilient instructional practitioners!

At our July 27th school board meeting, our central office leadership team will be presenting our district-wide strategic goals that will serve as a compass as we chart our path to the next level of excellence. As always, we seek to engage students in authentic learning experiences, so as to mold innovative problem solvers who thrive professionally, academically, and socially. While we will accomplish many set goals, one goal that we will continue to work toward is allowing our school community to heal and attempt to return to a relative sense of normalcy.

Finally, as I enter my second year as your school superintendent, I will admit that I have grown exponentially. Despite the adversity that we all have endured, our amazing faculty, staff, students, and I, stand at the ready to continue fighting the good fight for the betterment of our school system and of our beloved city. I still remain committed to our city and to the belief that together we can all make a difference in the lives of our youth. I sincerely look forward to continuing our mutual quest to serve RCS students to the utmost. I am confident in our collective ability to ADAPT, ADJUST, and OVERCOME.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Curtis Wright

Superintendent

FREE Breakfast and Lunch for all RCS students!

Through a USDA program, all RCS students will receive FREE breakfast and lunch every day of the school year, if they chose it. If students would rather, they are allowed to bring packed lunches from home. Refrigeration and heating are not available. https://rcs.nutrislice.com/menus-eula


Principal at Dennis Middle School Meet Ms. Crystal Cooper, coming to us from Mt. Vernon Community Schools where she served as the assistant principal for five years, leading that district to many academic achievement in student-based learning, as well as defining the district's mission, vision, and core values. Ms. Cooper received her Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Ball State University and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Oakland University.	Principal at Crestdale Elementary School Hello to Mrs. Jenny Elorreaga, who has been with RCS for 19 years. She is a 1998 alumna of Richmond High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education Education from Ball State University. She and her husband, Michael, reside in Richmond and have two children, Isabella and Ryan.	Principal at Starr Elementary School Mrs. Melissa Jordan brings more than two decades of instruction to her role at Starr. She is a 1995 alumna of Richmond High School. She has been an instructional coach and teacher at Starr Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from IU East. She lives in Richmond with her husband, Christopher.

Principal at Dennis Middle School

Meet Ms. Crystal Cooper, coming to us from Mt. Vernon Community Schools where she served as the assistant principal for five years, leading that district to many academic achievement in student-based learning, as well as defining the district's mission, vision, and core values. Ms. Cooper received her Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Ball State University and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Oakland University.

Principal at Crestdale Elementary School

Hello to Mrs. Jenny Elorreaga, who has been with RCS for 19 years. She is a 1998 alumna of Richmond High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education Education from Ball State University. She and her husband, Michael, reside in Richmond and have two children, Isabella and Ryan.

Principal at Starr Elementary School

Mrs. Melissa Jordan brings more than two decades of instruction to her role at Starr. She is a 1995 alumna of Richmond High School. She has been an instructional coach and teacher at Starr Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from IU East. She lives in Richmond with her husband, Christopher.


Assistant Principal at Dennis Middle School Mr. Evan Grossman comes to Dennis Middle School from MSD of Warren Township in Indianapolis. He received his Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Butler University and his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.	Chief Human Resources Officer Mrs. Jamie Bolser comes to RCS with over 20 years of diverse leadership experience. Mrs. Bolser holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Indiana University Kokomo. Click here to read more about Mrs. Bolser	Director of Student Achievement Mr. Brent Baker comes to RCS with over 20 years of experience in the academic landscape, with expertise in elementary, middle, and high school. Mr. Baker obtained a B.A. Elementary Education Degree from Purdue University in 2001, a Master's Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan in 2006, and a Educational Specialist degree from Indiana State University in 2018.

Assistant Principal at Dennis Middle School

Mr. Evan Grossman comes to Dennis Middle School from MSD of Warren Township in Indianapolis. He received his Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Butler University and his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.

Chief Human Resources Officer

Mrs. Jamie Bolser comes to RCS with over 20 years of diverse leadership experience. Mrs. Bolser holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Indiana University Kokomo. Click here to read more about Mrs. Bolser

Director of Student Achievement

Mr. Brent Baker comes to RCS with over 20 years of experience in the academic landscape, with expertise in elementary, middle, and high school. Mr. Baker obtained a B.A. Elementary Education Degree from Purdue University in 2001, a Master's Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan in 2006, and a Educational Specialist degree from Indiana State University in 2018.


Principal at Westview Mr. Max Smith obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ball State University in 2016. In the past, Mr. Smith has taught at RCS and most recently served as an assistant principal for Union County Schools. “I am honored and excited about the opportunity to join the Westview Elementary School family,” said Mr. Smith. “As a former student of Westview, I look forward to working and learning alongside the staff and partnering with families and the community as we all work together to achieve the Richmond Community School’s vision ‘to prepare students for lives of choice, purpose, and service.’”	Principal at Charles Mr. Steven Jones has over twenty years of elementary, secondary and administrative experience in Indiana and Montana. Mr. Jones obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois College, and earned his Master’s Degree in School Administration from Indiana University.	Director of Exceptional Student Education Mrs. Elizabeth Markward has joined the administrative team at the RCS Administration Building as the Director of Exceptional Student Education. An exceptional student is one who has special learning needs. The special assistance received in school is called Exceptional Student Education. Mrs. Markward oversees the continuum of services that may be provided in a variety of settings, which include regular classrooms, resource rooms, hospital/homebound, and non-public school (contractual).

Principal at Westview

Mr. Max Smith obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ball State University in 2016. In the past, Mr. Smith has taught at RCS and most recently served as an assistant principal for Union County Schools.

“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to join the Westview Elementary School family,” said Mr. Smith. “As a former student of Westview, I look forward to working and learning alongside the staff and partnering with families and the community as we all work together to achieve the Richmond Community School’s vision ‘to prepare students for lives of choice, purpose, and service.’”

Principal at Charles

Mr. Steven Jones has over twenty years of elementary, secondary and administrative experience in Indiana and Montana. Mr. Jones obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois College, and earned his Master’s Degree in School Administration from Indiana University.

Director of Exceptional Student Education

Mrs. Elizabeth Markward has joined the administrative team at the RCS Administration Building as the Director of Exceptional Student Education. An exceptional student is one who has special learning needs. The special assistance received in school is called Exceptional Student Education. Mrs. Markward oversees the continuum of services that may be provided in a variety of settings, which include regular classrooms, resource rooms, hospital/homebound, and non-public school (contractual).