Dear Board of Directors,
It is with a sense of loss and a feeling of how many things I will truly miss, that I with much hesitation resign/retire effective January 31, 2022. After 52 years in Public Education, 23 years as the Founder, CEO and Superintendent of Universal Academy, I am retiring from public education. I am making this announcement now with the knowledge that I leave Universal Academy in the best Leadership, Educational and Financial hands since it’s inception. I know the transition will be seamless as your new leader has been at the helm for the past several months.
The number of talented people that I have had the honor to work alongside are too numerous to mention here individually. But I want all the administrators, teachers, and staff to know that my success has always been based on their success. Thank you for your dedication and hard work. There are still four months of the school year remaining and I look forward to your completing our most productive school year ever. I will continue to push for improved student achievement which has been a major emphasis of my administration.
I want to publicly thank all the school board members, for giving me the opportunity to serve the UA community and for supporting the decisions made during my administration. Together, with a caring and committed staff, we have shaped one of the highest quality educational institutions in the state; one that we can all be proud of. I also want to thank the many parents, teachers, staff, and community members who have served unselfishly on numerous committees over the years. The work of these people provided excellent advice and guidance which helped shape district decisions for future generations.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the handful of leaders at the administration office who have served as my administrative team over the years. They hold tough jobs that require creative talents to find solutions that cannot be found in any textbook. These leaders are good people who I respect and enjoy working with daily.
It is my greatest hope that the legacy I leave in place for the Universal Academy Public School family is a stronger organization and an excellent vehicle to ensure our students success. Thank you to everyone for the guidance and support given to me during my superintendency in Universal Academy, and a special thanks to Dr Dana Jobe.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming our new leader and chief Superintendent Dr. Dana Jean Jobe.
Yours truly,
Diane Harris
Founder, CEO and Superintendent