La Tierra Montessori School Board bade farewell to Director Ed Wood during the Feb. 25 board meeting. Board Co-chair Marcia Brenden announced the news to the Board members and handful of public attendants.
Brenden said Wood turned in his letter of resignation a couple of weeks prior to the board meeting. His last day will be March 12.
“I don’t know if we refuse it (resignation), it would make a difference at this point,” Board Chair Ron Martinez said.
Wood said in a later interview he was resigning due to personal reasons.
“It’s (resigning) been in the works a few weeks now,” Wood said.
He said he regretted leaving the school, especially before the end of the school year, but it was the decision he had to make.
“Thank you for following our vision,” Martinez said. “Thank you for getting us so far.”
In Wood’s tenure as director, stable learning environments have been created for each classroom, Brenden said. Now, utilizing the Montessori method in each classroom will be possible.
“We tremendously appreciate the work Ed put into this school,” Brenden said.
Wood had already sent letters out to parents and met with teachers about his upcoming departure. He is also working with the Board to create a transitional plan.
“We’re not going to put out an ad,” Brenden said. “We’re searching in our own networks.”
Brenden said there was no one in place to take Wood’s position, but there were three promising, highly qualified local candidates. Until the head director position is filled, an interim director will be put in place until June. At the time of the meeting, the Board did not have a person named to be interim director.