January 29, 2025
Dear Northshore Families and Secondary Students:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to express sincere appreciation for Superintendent Tolley’s service to Northshore students, families, staff, and community. Superintendent Tolley has shared his plans to retire after 45 years as an educator. His last day as our Superintendent will be June 30, 2025.
In the seven years he has served Northshore students, he has been on the vanguard of improving programs and building a culture of belonging for each and every student. A true servant leader, Superintendent Tolley exemplifies what it looks like to put the mission of Northshore – to strengthen the community through excellence in education – into action.
Under Superintendent Tolley’s leadership, there have been multiple areas of consequential work on behalf of students in every corner of our district. To name a few, from his first day in Northshore, he led a foundational shift in how we serve our students receiving special education services, which led to improved educational outcomes, a stronger sense of belonging, and enriched school communities for all students. Under his leadership, Northshore has experienced a staggeringly successful implementation of a new English/Language Arts curriculum in our elementary schools, not to mention multiple improvements to math teaching strategies and programs. He also greatly expanded our Career and Technical Education options for our high school students. And after reinventing our family and community engagement process, Superintendent Tolley swiftly acted on feedback he received and realigned internal resources to create the Northshore Family Engagement and Resource Center.
In the best of times, that work would leave a legacy. But the fact that he led all that complex work while also supporting students’ increased academic and social-emotional needs - and carefully shepherding the District through a budget reduction process necessitated by simultaneous underfunding from the State - is truly remarkable. These successes were made possible because of his commitment to authentic levels of partnership with students, families, labor partners, and community partners. He set an example for every educational leader in Northshore and beyond.
The Board would like to honor his long career of service, and we will always be inspired by his unapologetic commitment to students, especially those most in need of our care. His impact on Northshore will be felt for years to come, and we wish him a wonderful, well-deserved retirement after his long career of serving the future of our community.
The Board of Directors will be working together to determine our next steps, including the hiring process for a new Superintendent. More information will be shared over the coming weeks. In the meantime, please take this opportunity to thank Superintendent Tolley for his service and commitment to our students and greater community.
In partnership,
President Amy Cast
Northshore Board of Directors
President Amy Cast
Vice President Elisabeth Sotak
Director Sandy Hayes
Director Jacqueline McGourty
Director Hân Trần