WAVERLY, Ohio — The Superintendent of Waverly City Schools resigned Wednesday night.
The resignation of Ed Dickens happened during a public board meeting in the small village in Pike County.
The Guardian reported last week that Dickens’ contract would not be renewed at the end of the school year. The story prompted outrage from the school board’s president, Allan Szoke who called on the Guardian to retract the story. Because of the rebuke, the Guardian wrote a clarification that Dickens’ contract would not be renewed and that a discussion happened behind closed doors and that he was given the option to resign or not be renewed. Despite the clarification, the school board denied such allegations.
Dickens’ resignation was effective immediately. Bill Hoover, the director of operations will succeed him as interim leader until a successor is named.
The Guardian has reached out to Dickens for comment. The board released a letter to the public of social media which announced the departure.
“On February 8, 2023, Superintendent Ed Dickens announced that he will resign, effective February 8, 2023. Prior to serving as superintendent, Mr. Dickens worked with every age group in the District, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent. Mr. Dickens, also, directed plays at the Waverly High School for 25 years and was instrumental in the development of the Community Outreach and Parent Engagement (COPE) program 7 years ago. The Board of Education thanks Mr. Dickens for his lengthy service to the District and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.”
The letter went on to say, “The Board of Education is committed to setting up a thorough and comprehensive superintendent search process and looking forward to prioritizing community engagement and feedback from parents and guardians, students, staff, and the school district community as a whole. During this transition, Bill Hoover, Director of Operations, will serve as interim superintendent. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Hoover; our District is in great hands. The Board of Education will provide updates as it progresses through the search process.”
The letter concluded with, “As our school community moves forward, the Board of Education continues its dedication to creating a successful learning environment centered around students, directed by teachers, and supported by home and community.”