After being at the helm officially since March 2017, superintendent Mark Wintjes has left his post with School District 27.
In a press release issued Friday afternoon, the board of education said Wintjes has expressed a desire to return to teaching and will commence that work on January 28, 2019 at the beginning of second semester.
“The board wishes Mr. Wintjes the very best in his return to teaching and thanks him for his time and effort as superintendent.”
In the interim the board has appointed former superintendent Diane Wright as interim superintendent, beginning Monday, December 3.
The recruitment process for a long-term district leader will start immediately.
The board noted it welcomes Diane Wright back to the district and thanks her for her willingness to provide leadership during this transition period.
Before becoming the superintendent, Wintjes acted in the position from September 2016.
Read more: Mark Wintjes appointed superintendent of SD 27
Wintjes has served the district since 1993.
He was the principal of Puntzi Mountain, Bridge Lake, Forest Grove, Buffalo Creek and 100 Mile House Jr. Secondary schools and held the positions of district principal and director of instruction (Human Resources) from 2008 to 2013.
In 2013, Wintjes returned to teaching at GROW/Skyline in Williams Lake and was asked in September to take on the acting superintendent position, while the board continued its search for a permanent superintendent.
Last year the teachers passed a vote of non-confidence against the district board and management.
A follow-up report released by the Ministry of Education in May 2018 found that many concerns expressed by SD27 teachers in the Cariboo Chilcotin stemmed from issues of respect, relationships and trust.
Read more: Respect and trust between CCTA and SD27 lacking: says ministry report
In the October election, which saw the departure of board chair Tanya Gunther, who chose not to run again, almost an entire new board was elected.
Wright retired in 2012 and was replaced by Mark Thiessen.
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