Advertisement

In surprise move, Hernando deputy school superintendent resigns

 
Eric Williams resigned as Hernando’s deputy superinten-dent Tuesday after one year on the job.
Eric Williams resigned as Hernando’s deputy superinten-dent Tuesday after one year on the job.
Published June 22, 2016

BROOKSVILLE — In a move that shocked some Hernando County School District officials, Eric Williams has resigned as deputy superintendent after one year on the job.

Williams, 44, who has served as a district staffer since 2008, according to a biography he provided to the Times last year, was promoted to his $96,200-a-year job last year during a shake-up of district-level administrators.

He was considered a loyal lieutenant of superintendent Lori Romano, who praised him highly in an announcement Tuesday to district staffers.

"He had exactly the right collection of skills, along with a deep understanding of our district's challenges, which we needed in order to move forward," Romano wrote.

The superintendent gave no reason for Williams' departure other than that he left to "pursue other opportunities."

Williams said the same in a terse resignation letter dated June 15. The effective date of his resignation is July 6, the letter says.

School Board chairman Matt Foreman said he also thought highly of Williams' work and was stunned by the announcement.

"He's somebody I have a great deal of respect for. ... He was a huge asset to the district," Foreman said, adding that he thought of Williams as a potential future superintendent, partly because "he's a local guy."

Williams graduated from Hernando High School and taught here briefly in the 1990s. Before returning to the district a decade later, he taught high school English and journalism in Wyoming.

In the Hernando district office, he previously worked as a grant writer, director of school improvement and public information officer.

"I was definitely shocked by this," said School Board member Beth Narverud.

She also praised his work, even though she has sometimes clashed with Romano — and Williams was known as a staunch defender of the superintendent.

"He was very loyal to her and never had a bad word about her or the job she did as a leader," Narverud said.

Contact Dan DeWitt at ddewitt@tampabay.com. Follow @ddewitttimes.