West Virginia state Superintendent of Schools David Stewart has announced he will retire June 30, a year after he had originally planned to step down but was persuaded to stay on by supporters and other state officials.
“At this time, I know I must move into another phase of my life. It’s simply time,” Mr. Stewart, 60, said in a March 29 statement.
Mr. Stewart originally announced his retirement in February 2004. A few weeks after making that announcement, he said that an outpouring of support had persuaded him to stay an additional two years. He cut that by a year, realizing it was time for a change, said Liza Cordeiro, the spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Education.
Mr. Stewart, who was appointed by the state board of education, has been the state schools chief since 2000.