The Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Cooperative Educational Services on Thursday, May 2, regretfully accepted the retirement resignation of District Superintendent Jacklin G. Starks, effective December 1, 2019.
Starks’ announcement begins the final chapter of a 40-year career in education, including 16 years as the MOBOCES District Superintendent.
“Serving as District Superintendent has been the most rewarding experience of my professional life. I have been blessed to know and work alongside so many passionate and talented educators, leaders and colleagues who truly care about children and education,” she said. “My career has taught me the true meaning of service leadership. It has been my great honor to serve the children, my regional community and statewide partners.
Starks joined the MOBOCES leadership team in 1992, having served as a Special Education Coordinator, Early Childhood Director, Special Programs Director and Assistant Superintendent for Instruction before assuming the District Superintendent role. Prior to that, she was an elementary school principal in Canastota, and she began her career as a speech/language pathologist. She is a 1974 graduate of Canastota High School, and she has remained actively involved in many local, regional and statewide efforts to prepare the next generation of educators, align K-12 curriculum with higher education expectations and workforce needs, and move education forward for all learners.
Several years ago, the Chief School Officers of the MOBOCES region surprised her at an Annual Meeting by presenting her with the inaugural Devoted Service Award for her leadership, professionalism, and continuing support for kids. As the officers noted, “Jackie is now, and has always been, about putting kids first. This is not just some convenient slogan for her. She always lights up when she is in a setting where kids are learning or performing.”
MOBOCES Board President Suzanne Carvelli, of Rome, said Starks has been an outstanding leader during her years of service and will undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on the organization.
“The Board of MOBOCES last night accepted with regret the letter of retirement from our District Superintendent Jacklin Starks,” Carvelli said. “Over the course of the last 16 years, our BOCES has been guided by this exceptional and visionary leader. Her knowledge, insight and can-do attitude have made us the highly regarded organization we are today. We are confident that her unique ability to mentor others to the highest of standards will prove to be just one of her many lasting achievements, and that future generations of educators will continue to be led by her exceptional example. We wish District Superintendent Starks all the best in her retirement.”
There are 37 BOCES agencies in New York State, each offering cooperative services to districts in their regions and serving as an extension of the State Education Department. MOBOCES provides programs, services and expertise to Camden, Canastota, Hamilton, Madison, Morrisville-Eaton, New York State School for the Deaf (Rome campus), Oneida, Rome, Stockbridge Valley and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.
Whenever any of these BOCES have a District Superintendent vacancy, the State Education Commissioner is required to conduct an organizational study to look at the possibility of reorganization. Following the completion of the study, the BOCES Board may begin its search for a permanent District Superintendent.
No decisions have been made yet regarding an interim or leadership transitions, nor is there yet a timeline for these decisions to occur.