Suzanne Godin resigns effective June 30 to work more directly with classroom education.

South Portland Schools Superintendent Suzanne Godin has resigned effective June 30, and school board members will meet Monday to discuss the search for a replacement.

Godin notified the city’s school board that she wants to “move back toward working directly to make a difference in our classrooms” after eight years as superintendent.

“The majority of my time is spent dealing with personnel issues, in budget discussions, and playing political games,” Godin wrote in a resignation letter dated Nov. 10. At the same time, she wrote, Godin said she sees her time as superintendent as being the most productive of her career and she is proud of the programs and staff in place in the city’s public schools.

Godin has worked in education for 32 years and has been in the city’s central office for the past 11. She was assistant superintendent for three years before moving up to the top job.

Her tenure included the development of an adult education program and the renovation and expansion of the high school.

Godin’s letter to the board does not indicate what she plans to do next, except that she wants to return to the “activities that give me energy.”

Godin said in an email message Friday that she is effectively retiring from public education and has no plans to go to another school district. “I’m not sure what I’ll do, but I want to look at opportunities to get back to working more directly with teachers and administrators to help them improve their practice,” she wrote.

The school board is scheduled to formally accept the resignation at its regular meeting Monday. Board members also will consider contracting with the Maine School Management Association to conduct a search for the next superintendent.

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