OTIS — The Otis School Committee has hired two interim, part-time administrators to run the Beech Hill School following the resignation of Principal/Superintendent Tom Leonard.

The school’s special education director, Carrie Thurston, will work two days a week as principal. Joe Mattos, an education consultant and superintendent of Islesboro, will work one to two days a week as superintendent.

Otis School Committee Chairman Jen Cammack said the board received Leonard’s letter of resignation at its April 5 meeting.

“I think he just wanted to pursue other interests,” Cammack said.

Leonard began the job last summer and stepped down as of April vacation. Cammack said Leonard is using sick and vacation time and will remain employed by the school system through June.

He will be available to staff for questions, she added.

Prior to Leonard’s departure, the School Committee had decided Beech Hill needed a separate principal and superintendent.

Cammack said the decision had nothing to do with the quality of Leonard’s work.

“It wouldn’t have mattered who was in that position,” she said. “That position we created wasn’t working.”

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