The North East Independent School District board of trustees voted Monday evening to appoint Anthony Jarrett as interim superintendent effective Jan. 13.
Jarrett is currently serving the role of chief instructional officer at NEISD, where he’s been employed for six years.
“I’m thrilled to build on the great work we’ve been doing and to explore new learning opportunities for all our students,” Jarrett said in a written statement. “I’m eager to collaborate with our amazing staff and families to ensure we provide the best education possible.”
The same evening the board approved the resignation of Superintendent Sean Maika effective March 31 with his last day planned for Jan. 12.
Maika announced his plans to retire last month after leading the district since 2019. During Monday’s meeting Maika said his plans to retire are solely based on his desire to spend more time with his family, especially his wife Caryn Maika, who he said he plans to travel the world with.
“This wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly, my family and I… we’ve always put my career first. It’s time for me to put my family first,” Maika said. “It’s just that simple. There’s nothing nefarious going on here.”
The superintendent still has one more board meeting in January, but as the trustees approved the resignation, most of them offered early words of gratitude and farewell echoing the “huge loss” this means for the city’s second largest school district which houses more than 56,000 students across 70 schools.
Change is inevitable, Maika said, but he leaves knowing that his team will continue to take care of the district.
“I’ve been in leadership now 24 years, folks, I don’t get anywhere without great people, and there are a lot of great people in this audience,” Maika said at the meeting. “That’s what makes the system work.”