Yet another superintendent has resigned in what has become a rising wave of leaders who have departed over school board conflicts. Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Superintendent Eric Olson cited “irreconcilable differences” with the board as the main reason for his decision to resign from the Chicago-area system when the school year ends in June.
A few days after his announcement, several parents spoke out in support of Olson at a school board meeting. Last November, however, other parents called for Olson to step down after the district changed its annual Holiday Sing program into the Spring Sing, a move that some considered “anti-Christmas,” the Daily Herald reported.
“I will leave proud of the administrative team we were able to form in my four years in the district. Combined with an excellent staff, we have continued to educate the students of District 64 towards greater success, and despite the pandemic, our students continue to make strong gains,” Olson wrote in his resignation letter to the school board.
Superintendent departs after shooting
In Virginia, Newport News schools Superintendent George Parker will “be relieved of his duties” on Feb. 1 after facing heavy criticism over the shooting of a first-grade teacher by a 6-year-old earlier this year. Newport News School Board chair Lisa Surles-Law described the separation as amicable.
“Dr. Parker is a capable division leader who has served NNPS for nearly five years through some extremely challenging circumstances,” Surles-Law said in a statement. “This decision is based on the future trajectory and needs of our school division.”
The board commended Parker for developing a long-range facility improvement plan and expanding mentorship and student leadership programs in the Virginia district. Michele Mitchell, Newport News Public Schools’ executive director of student advancement, will take over as interim superintendent.
Police say that the 6-year-old male student shot and wounded teacher Abby Zwerner after an altercation in a classroom at Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 6. Zwerner suffered life-threatening injuries but is now recovering after having spent two weeks in the hospital, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. The family of the student has said he has a significant disability while Zwerner’s lawyer has accused school administrators of ignoring multiple warnings that the student was armed and acting erratically on the day of the shooting.
Great meeting with the Richneck Elementary staff this morning. What a wonderful group! Let’s continue to offer them the love and support that they need. @nnschools
— Dr. George Parker (@DrGParker) January 11, 2023
In a statement about his impending departure, Parker noted that he raised teacher and staff pay and expanded mental health services as well as reading and mathematics diagnostic testing. “I wish Ms. Zwerner and the Richneck staff and community best wishes in their recovery from this unfortunate and tragic incident,” said the statement posted by WTKR. “I admire their bravery and the selfless love that they have demonstrated for each other and their students.”
Richneck Elementary School’s vice principal has also resigned, ABC 8 News reported.
No school board conflicts here
New leaders coming on board include Tawana Grover, who will become superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District on July 1, 2023. Grover succeeds Interim Superintendent Art Sathoff, who was appointed after the passing of former superintendent Noreen Bush in October 2022.
More from DA: On average, there’s been nearly one school shooting a day since the new year
In Ohio, Olympia Della Flora has been as chosen as the next leader of Marion City Schools. Della Flora has been the assistant superintendent for Marion City Schools since August 2022 and was previously the associate superintendent in Stamford Public Schools and a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Columbus City Schools.
The Bellevue School District Board in Washington has chosen Kelly Aramaki to take over as superintendent on July 1. He is currently the district’s assistant superintendent.
More superintendents shifts
- Marcelo Cavazos will retire in August after 11 years as superintendent of Arlington ISD in Texas.
- George C. Hummer has been named superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools in Virginia, succeeding the retiring David T. Sovine.
- Interim superintendent Rod Earleywine has been named the finalist for district superintendent at Sioux City Community School District in Iowa. Earleywine was previously superintendent of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District, also in Iowa.
- Michael Triplett has been chosen as the next superintendent of the Normandie Schools Collaborative near St. Louis, Missouri.
