Longtime educator resigns
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By Cristina Kumka Herald Staff - Published: December 23, 2008
William Mathis, the longest-serving school superintendent in Vermont, announced his resignation Monday.
"I am resigning, effective June 30, to concentrate on my research and writing. Leaving the superintendence is bittersweet in that I will deeply miss the fine board members, administrators, teachers, support staff and colleagues around the state. They have made the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union a superb organization and the highlight of my career," Mathis wrote in an e-mail late Monday.
"Aware of many important projects and challenges, such as the Leicester, Sudbury and Whiting cooperative, I have promised the board that I would be available to bridge these vital activities and help my successor get off to a good start."
Mathis, 65, served the length of his career overseeing Rutland Northeast's seven schools in Brandon, Leicester, Sudbury, Whiting, Pittsford and Chittenden.
His retirement is at a maximum, according to Mathis, and he simply said to himself, "If you are going to write, you have to do it now."
Educators, parents and state officials characterized Mathis' resignation as a loss to Vermont education.
"He respected the creativity of each individual student and saw them as a person, not just a student," said Leicester school board member Hannah Sessions.
"He was always a great advocate for schools and not afraid to be outspoken."
A professor of education finance and school administration at the University of Vermont outside of the union, Mathis is an outspoken opponent of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, joining a federal lawsuit following passage of the law in 2001 to challenge what he believes is an unfunded mandate, burdening local school districts with paying the tab for a federal project.
Mathis' earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas and has done extensive research and consulting in the fields of equity and
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