HUDSON – Hudson Public Schools Superintendent Marco Rodrigues announced his plans to retire at the end of June 2023 in a letter sent out to families.
“My decision to close this chapter of my professional career has not been easy, nor has it been without a lot of deep reflection and soul searching,” Rodrigues said in the letter shared with the Community Advocate.
Rodrigues has served as an educator for 32 years, including the past five in Hudson. Before he came to Hudson, his tenure at Worcester Public Schools spanned 26 years.
“I consider myself blessed for my professional accomplishments and for the invaluable experiences I have had during my 32-year career as an educator,” he said.
Back in 1990, Rodrigues, who said he was a developing English Learner attending Worcester State, applied for a position as an Instructional Assistant with the Worcester Public Schools.
He said that working at an alternative school with students with changing lives, his eyes opened to the world of education, and he decided to become an educator.
He served in teaching and administrative positions before he became the Executive Director of the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative in Worcester in 2007.
He led the pre-k through grade 12 organization, and after three years, he was tapped to be the Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services. He later served as Chief Academic Officer from 2012 to 2017.
In 2017, the School Committee appointed Rodrigues to succeed Jodi Fortuna at the helm of the Hudson Public Schools.
“My 26-year tenure in the Worcester Public Schools offered me a wide range of knowledge and skills, which I transferred and applied here in Hudson,” Rodrigues said. “Whether in Worcester or in Hudson, all my knowledge and skills were targeted toward assisting and supporting students and their families.”
He continued, “I believe that the Hudson School District is ready to embrace even greater opportunities for continued success in the years to come. I am proud of our accomplishments in Hudson.”
Under Rodrigues’ term, Hudson launched a dual language Portuguese program at Farley Elementary School, which was visited by Portuguese Education Minister João Costa in June.
In the letter, he voiced his appreciation for the “tenacity” and “hard work” of the district leadership team.
“I am thankful for the outstanding team we have in Hudson and for the unconditional dedication and commitment of our building administrators,” he wrote.
Hudson’s school community will have a special place in his heart, Rodrigues said.
“I anticipate that I will miss many things. What I will not miss is waking up every day at 5 am, having late night meetings every other Tuesday, calling a ‘snow day,’ or getting late night emergency calls,” he said. “Thank you Hudson for being my ‘home away from home’ for the past 5 years.”
“I will cherish every moment of this school year and vow to continue to successfully lead the District and the great work ahead of us through June 2023,” Rodrigues said.
