In a meeting with his central office staff, department heads, and WJLE radio Monday morning, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby announced that he will retire from the position effective June 30, 2015. The Review was not invited to the meeting.
Willoughby apparently called a meeting to inform his staff of the decision, then sent an email to school board members. The email, obtained by the Review from other sources, read simply: "Please let this serve as notice of my retirement as of June 30, 2015. Thank you Mark Willoughby."
While the director has two years remaining on his contract, WJLE reports that he cited friction between himself and new school board members, as a reason for leaving early.
Willoughby, who has been director of schools since 2006 was approved by the board of education for a new three-year contract a little over a year ago. Board of Education Members John David Foutch, Charles Robinson, Kenny Rhody, and Chairman Johnny Lattimore voted in favor of the measure. Billy Miller, Doug Stephens, and W.J. (Dub) Evins, III voted against it, saying that they felt that a one-year contract was in the system’s best interest.
In an unusual sweep of the board by voters, four new members, Danny Parkerson, Jerry Wayne Johnson, Jim Beshearse, and Shaun Tubbs, were elected in August, replacing Foutch, Robinson, Rhody, and Lattimore. Miller was re-elected, but was forced to resign immediately because a promotion at his job with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation prohibited him from holding office. His wife Kate Miller was then appointed by the county commission to fill the position until the next election in August 2016.
According to WJLE’s reports, Willoughby told his staff at the meeting that his rapport with the board had since soured. "I had a real good working relationship with the board for eight years. It’s no secret that since September the board and I haven’t gotten along very well. Hopefully their interest is in the best of the children. My interest has always been for the best of the children. I have fought for all the children of DeKalb County. But I don’t think it is good for the Director of Schools and the board to have conflict. I think it is good for them to get along," Willoughby reportedly told the staff.
The new board scored Willoughby at 2.92 of a possible six in his annual performance evaluation in January, and has since, according to his remarks at the meeting, been asked to renegotiate his contract.
In an email statement to local media, Board Chairman Evins said "I feel it is my fiduciary responsibility to call a "Special Called Meeting" as soon as possible, in order to allow the entire board the opportunity to consider and act on Director Willoughby’s retirement announcement and timeframe."
On Monday afternoon, Willoughby released an open letter to DeKalb County, which read:
"To DeKalb County:
It is at this time I have decided to announce my retirement of Director of Schools. It has been an honor to help with the process of educating the future of our county. Over the past nine years I have fought every day for what I believe is the most important part of a child’s life and that is the right to learn. When I came to DeKalb County it was not because of a selfish agenda or for political gain, but I felt a divine calling from God and I have felt that calling every day since. However, as of June 30, 2015 my tenure as Director will end.
Since my coming to DeKalb County we have assembled a team of young, spirited, and passionate educators who have helped DeKalb County achieve unprecedented levels of success. It is because of the effort and dedication of the teachers and staff of this school system, which made the vision I had for DeKalb County a reality.
I have had to make difficult decisions during my tenure, but every decision I made I strived to do with the good morals and the utmost character. I have always strived to have integrity and truly be involved in our school system for the right reasons.
I want to thank all of the employees of the DeKalb County Schools who have been so dedicated to the betterment of our school system. I know that more positive events will come our way in the future. Lastly, I want to thank the parents for letting our schools help mold and shape your children. I hope that you found an environment where your children were safe, educated, and were guided to a path where they could succeed.
Very truly yours,
Mark Willoughby"
