Dr. Jeremy Owoh has confirmed to DeltaplexNews.com that he has informed his staff that he has tendered his resignation.
His final day will be June 30.
Owoh was named Superintendent in September 2018 after the state Education Board voted to classify Pine Bluff as a district in fiscal distress and to remove the Pine Bluff School Board and interim superintendent.
Pine Bluff’s financial problems stem in part from yearly declines in student enrollment. The district lost 1,552 students between the 2007-08 and 2017-18 school years, falling from 5,200 to 3,648.
Owoh was appointed as Superintendent of the district by state Education Commissioner Johnny Key.
UPDATE: Owoh provided DeltaplexNews.com with a letter he issued to his staff informing them of his decision to resign:
Dear PBSD Staff:
Today, I am writing to inform you that June 30, 2020 will be my last day as Superintendent of Schools for the Pine Bluff School District. The decision to leave is truly bitter sweet. It was not an easy decision to make because over the past 21 months I have grown to know many of you as friends and valued colleagues. I appreciate and respect each of you. It has truly been a privilege to work with and serve you as your Superintendent. Over the past two years we have had several successes, and I will always remember the meaningful work we have been able to start together. I know that the purposeful work will continue.
As I finish my tenure, I am confident in knowing that our students are doing better academically and that our District is headed towards fiscal stability. I am confident in knowing that it will continue because I have seen the passion that many of you have for educating our scholars. We have made significant strides in reaching our academic goals in literacy and mathematics because we have worked together and focused on out scholars’ needs. It is my prayer that this concerted effort will continue because the expertise and the direct impact on student success and achievement rest in the school buildings and in the classroom with you. Lastly, I appreciate the fact that we have made a valiant effort to recognize and minister to the needs of our students more completely through attention to the social and emotional aspects of their lives.
It was an honor to be in the District as we proudly announced and recognized our 2019 PBSD Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Sanders and our 2020 Milken Educator Award winner, Ms. Thomas. There are many positive things that are in the pipeline for the Pine Bluff School District, such as a new building project, a list of improvements across other campuses of our district, a new fleet of buses that are equipped with WiFi. For all this and much, much more, I thank Secretary Johnny Key, and I thank you all for the opportunity to serve.
So, I will prepare to leave the District with the same mindsight and outlook that I had when I started, full of gratitude for the opportunity to serve and optimistic of the great work that will come from our scholars each day with the support and guidance of distinguished educators and supportive community members. Thank you all for the gift of allowing me to be part of you.
I will remain thankful, hopeful, and prayerful for you and our scholars.
