Ohio schools superintendent steps down amid ethics questions

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio’s top education official has indicated he will step down at the end of next week.

Stan Heffner, superintendent of Ohio public schools, sent his letter of resignation to Ohio Department of Education president Debe Terhar.

The resignation comes in the wake of a revelation that Heffner testified before the state legislature on behalf of his private employer while holding the title of interim superintendent last summer. Heffner did not reveal his employment during the testimony.

“Much needed components underway in Ohio’s schools are too important to let anything get in their way,” Heffner said in a statement. “Because I don’t want opponents of reform to be able to twist mistakes I’ve made into roadblocks to Ohio’s reform efforts, I’m stepping aside to deny them even the chance of doing that."

Michael Sawyers, currently the deputy superintendent, will become the acting superintendent at 5 p.m. Friday, when Heffner’s resignation takes effect. It will then be up to the Ohio Board of Education to choose a permanent replacement.

“Stan’s decision to retire is the right one,” Ohio Gov. John Kasich said in a statement. “His mistakes in judgment were unfortunate, but I respect him always for putting Ohio’s students above everything else, including his own interests.”