We wanted to share some deeply sad news with the wider Springpoint community. Please see below for a letter from our Managing Director, Elina Alayeva.

Dear Springpoint friends and partners,

It is with great sadness that we write with the news of the passing of JoEllen Lynch, our Executive Director and dear friend. JoEllen passed away on Tuesday evening, October 3rd at home surrounded by her loving family.

JoEllen was an education pioneer, a brilliant innovator, and most importantly, a fierce advocate for all young people. JoEllen’s esteemed career was grounded in a commitment to social justice and a deep, unwavering belief in the potential of all young people to succeed. Her leadership improved the lives of tens of thousands of students and moved public education forward nationally.

As Assistant Executive Director at Good Shepherd Services, JoEllen helped the organization create education alternatives for the city’s most disengaged students, eventually to be called “transfer” schools. As part of that work, JoEllen founded and led South Brooklyn Community High School, one of the first nationally recognized transfer school models. She went on to lead the Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation in the New York City Department of Education under Chancellor Joel Klein. During her tenure, JoEllen helped launch dozens of schools serving over-age and under-credited secondary students citywide. She was also a key member of the Chancellor’s senior leadership team on the strategic development and implementation of key secondary and youth development strategies that contributed to an unprecedented and sustained increase in the city’s high school graduation rate.

As Executive Director at Springpoint, JoEllen expanded the reach of innovative practices nationally. She will be deeply missed as a leader, pioneer, mentor, colleague, and friend. We are privileged and honored to have worked alongside a visionary with so much spirit. Our team at Springpoint will continue to advance JoEllen’s vision to empower all young people to a bright and capable future.

We will always cherish and celebrate her wisdom and sharp wit, her sense of humor, her warmth, and her ability to connect with young people everywhere.

Sincerely,
Elina