By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — District 7 Supt. Jennifer Mast will be stepping down from her position by Aug. 9, after informing the Board of Education in a letter.
In the June 10 letter, Mast requested to return to the classroom with a teaching position within the district for the 2021-22 school year.
“It is with mixed emotions that I write this letter to the board,” Mast wrote in her letter. “It has always been my goal as the superintendent of schools to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students, our community and our staff.
“We all know that having a positive and productive relationship between the superintendent and the board is necessary for good things to happen in a school district. The eight of us owe it to the students and their families to be able to work together as a team.”
The board accepted Mast’s resignation and request to be assigned as a teacher during a June 15 special board meeting. In her contract terms, Mast is supposed to give 30 days notice but she offered up to 60 days to the board to allow for a smoother transition.
“I made a promise to myself when I accepted the position of superintendent of schools that I would not stay in this position once my ability to make positive change had come to an end,” Mast wrote. “I feel that we have reached that end.”
Initially, Mast was going to remain superintendent until July 10 before the change was made. Mast and the board also mutually can make a new motion to release Mast from her contract sooner if the search process for a new superintendent is completed early.
The board plans to gather information on appointing an interim superintendent, including contacting former superintendents to fill in while the search for candidates takes place.
“I look forward to seeing the board choose a new superintendent that can share their vision for District 7 moving forward,” Mast said in her letter. “I will make the transition to a new superintendent as seamless as possible. Thank you for your understanding and agreement that this decision is best for the future of District 7 Schools.”
During the board’s June 9 meeting, the board voted to table the approval of Mast’s 2021-22 contact which included at least a 3 percent salary increase. The item was set to be on the June 23 agenda.
Mast received an effective evaluation in December, and a year added to her contract in March.
“At this point, I realize that there are irreconcilable differences between the board and myself,” Mast wrote. “I feel that the damage that has been done to the relationship is impossible to repair. It is not fair to the students and the families of District 7 to be led by a team that can’t be successful.
At the June 15 meeting, board members thanked Mast for her time as superintendent and for her efforts. Mast has been serving as superintendent since May 2017 following her time as interim superintendent. She previously worked as a teacher and assistant principal at O.W. Best Middle School.
Also, Mast spent four years as principal at Bedford Elementary School. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Michigan-Dearborn in education and administration.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)