Los Angeles Superintendent John E. Deasy may resign this winter, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The superintendent has told board members in the nation’s second-largest school district that he may leave the district soon, but has not officially submitted a letter of resignation. He told reporters that he would have more to say after he received his job evaluation on Tuesday.
Deasy has implemented controversial new teacher and principal evaluation systems in the 670,000-student district and received criticism for his affiliation with the Gates Foundation, where he used to work. The district’s performance on standardized tests has gone up during his tenure, and Deasy navigated the district through a period of tough budget cuts.
A contentious, expensive school board election last spring brought in candidates who have challenged some of Deasy’s policies. The Times reports that Deasy has lost some political standing due to that board race and due to former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Deasy supporter, leaving office.
Deasy has been superintendent in Los Angeles since 2011. He graduated from the Broad Superintendents’ Academy in 2006, and has been superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu and Prince George’s County school districts.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy listens to board members during a 2012 meeting.
--Damian Dovarganes/AP-File