WATERTOWN – Watertown Unified School District Superintendent Jarred Burke has resigned from his position.
The Watertown Board of Education accepted Burke’s resignation during its Monday meeting. His resignation is set to take effect June 30.
Burke started as superintendent in the summer of 2022. He had been on a leave of absence since January, according to the school board. A reason for the leave was not provided at the time.
In a letter to the community, families, staff, and the school board, Burke said the decision to step down was not easy.
“The Board and I share the goal to positively serve students and families,” Burke said. “My decision to step away is rooted in governance conditions that do not match my vision of a servant leader’s professional responsibilities or the expectations of the superintendent role.”
Burke said the decision was not a reflection of students, staff, or families.
“They are the heart of this district, and their dedication, resilience, and belief in public education give me great hope for the future,” Burke said.
Burke also said he was proud of work completed during his time with the district, including creating a strategic plan and discussing how to fund district programming.
School Board President Laurie Hoffmann said Director of Special Education and Student Services Sara Oudenhoven and Director of Innovation, Technology, Data, and Strategy Jason Bull have been serving as interim co-superintendents since January.
Oudenhoven and Bull will continue in those roles while the school board begins the recruitment process for a one-year, full-time superintendent to lead the district during the 2026-27 school year.
The school board has also drawn recent attention for a separate controversy. In May, the board voted to remove an instrumental piece tied to LGBTQ+ history from a high school spring concert, citing the district’s controversial issues policy. No connection has been made between that controversy and Burke’s resignation.
