Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre announced today he will step down from his current role in July of this year.
His tenure in Knox County has been controversial, with teachers speaking out about his leadership and emphasis on TVAAS scores to evaluate and pay teachers.
The decision comes as recent votes by the School Board and County Commission indicate a lack of strong support for McIntyre.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported:
McIntyre’s contract recently was extended on a 5-4 vote of the school board, but McIntyre acknowledged that the 2016 election will shift the balance in favor of opponents of the superintendent.
He said that he decided to step down over the weekend, after conversations with Knox County Schools Board of Education Chairman Doug Harris.
McIntyre mentioned efforts by Knox County Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong to discredit his recent contract, and a vote by Knox County Commission to not support that contract. The 9-2 vote had no impact on his contract, which was between McIntyre and the Board of Education, but symbolic in showing a groundswell of dissent for the schools administrator.
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