Grundy County Director of Schools Dr. David Dickerson filed a letter of resignation on Monday after just 10 months in the job, and school board members have appointed an interim replacement.
“I have come to realize I am better suited for a support role in our school system rather than for the director,” Dickerson states in the letter of resignation.
Dickerson discussed the move with school board Chairman Tim Spicer, according to the letter.
“I will drop back into a supervisory position where I hope to continue serving our schools for as long as its leadership and Providence may allow,” Dickerson’s letter states.
Spicer said the board unanimously accepted Dickerson’s resignation and appointed Dr. William Childers, Pelham Elementary School principal, as interim director. Jamie Hill replaced Childers as principal at Pelham Elementary.
Spicer said board members will discuss the next steps to a permanent appointment in April.
“We’ll definitely post the job but we don’t know if we’re going to hire a firm to do the search for us or whether we’ll just take applications and screen candidates ourselves,” Spicer said.
Dickerson will return to his previous job as supervisor of elementary education in the central office.
Spicer said the resignation “was a total surprise.”
“We had a board meeting Thursday night and then Friday morning when I talked to the director he dropped that bombshell on us,” Spicer said. “It was a total shock. I was not expecting that, but after he explained his reasons — like he did in the letter — I respected that and I wanted to do what I could to grant his wish.”
The process to find a permanent director will begin with the Board of Education workshop on April 6 and regular meeting on April 9 at Grundy County High School.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.