Superintendent resigns

Gilmer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs resigned her position effective at the end of the school year. 

Downs made the announcement at a brief meeting of the Board of Education Tuesday, March 30. Her resignation takes effect May 28. 

In a letter to the board, Downs wrote, “Given the recent change to the dynamics of our board of education, I believe the timing of my resignation will allow the board to prepare for the FY22 school year with a candidate selected by the board.”

She pointed to six years of continued improvement and accomplishments, but said the time had come to pursue a new endeavor. 

Downs will become the executive director of West Georgia RESA. 

“My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed being Bobcats and while I am leaving for the next adventure in my career, I will forever carry a piece of Gilmer County in my heart,” Downs wrote in her letter. 

The board accepted her resignation unanimously and entered into a closed session.