Baker School District Superintendent Erin Lair announces resignation

BAKER CITY – (Release from Baker School District) At their regular school board meeting this evening, Superintendent Erin Lair announced her resignation from Baker School District, effective at the end of the fiscal year; and you can read her letter of resignation in its entirety below.

The Baker School District board of directors will meet in a work session on Wednesday, November 15, at 3pm to discuss a process for hiring Superintendent Lair’s successor. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Superintendent Lair these two school years,” says Board Chair Julie Huntington. “Our school board is proud of the work we have been able to accomplish together, and we wish we could convince Superintendent Lair to continue on with us for longer, but we also understand the personal nature of her decision and support her and her family absolutely. We will work diligently to find a successor who can continue forward with the same high drive to serve the students, families, and staff in this district.”

Board of Directors,

It is with an incredible amount of contemplation that I submit this letter of resignation to the Baker School District, effective June 30, 2024.

When the position in Baker 5J opened, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. Both

professionally and personally. Professionally, this has proven true over and over since I joined the district. Personally, I haven’t had the opportunity to fully shift into the

community.

It is the latter that is driving this decision. My intent upon taking this role was to relocate and immerse myself and my family back into Baker City. After over 18 months of working on that plan, my husband and I acknowledged that this isn’t coming to fruition. With two young girls, being in a continued state of attempted transition is an undue strain we had to weigh against the benefits of sustaining my role as superintendent. Further, knowing the process to hire a superintendent, I recognized that this decision needed to be made this fall.

The board of directors here in Baker are top notch. I tell everyone across the state that this district is as successful as we are because of the leadership, collegiality, and

cohesiveness of our board. We have an incredibly competent administrative team, skilled educators, and a dedicated staff that make Baker a true dream for a superintendent. This role is difficult no matter where you may land, but all of the care and capacity that exists within the people in Baker make being the superintendent here uniquely fulfilling.

We have done great work together launching from a well-established foundation. There are so many positive efforts in motion; Baker is a place anyone would be lucky to come to lead. To that end, I know that there will be someone enthusiastic and ready to pick up right where we are and continue to charge successfully forward.

I am grateful to all of you for trusting in me for this role. Thank you for the support and for all you have done and continue to do for Baker School District.

Sincerely,

Erin Lair

About the Baker School District

Nationally recognized Baker School District 5J (BSD) is a major employer in Baker City, OR, serving approximately 1,700 students locally with an additional 3,000 online students across the state of Oregon. Through enterprising, collaborative endeavors, BSD is creating an innovative educational foundation for future Oregonians. BSD believes strong school collaboration with local partners enables us to create vibrant communities that support lifelong learners.

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Elkhorn Media Group