St. Joseph Public Schools Superintendent Jenny Fee is resigning from the district.
The St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education says Fee has accepted the position of assistant superintendent of instructional services with the Kent Intermediate School District. She’s submitted her resignation to St. Joseph Public Schools, effective July 31, and the board of education voted to accept it on Tuesday morning.
The board thanked Fee for her three years of service to the district. President Barry Conybeare said, “Dr. Fee joined the district at a difficult time — the middle of the pandemic. She led us through those challenges and leaves the district with a comprehensive strategic plan and detailed facility assessment, both of which will guide the district over the next several years. The Board of Education is grateful for Dr. Fee’s vision and leadership over the past three years and wishes her the best in her future endeavors.”
Fee also expressed her gratitude, saying “St. Joseph Public Schools benefits from a community dedicated to strong schools, a Board of Education who makes decisions in the best interest of students, a skilled and cohesive administrative team, and a staff of the highest caliber. It has been an honor to serve St. Joseph Public Schools as its superintendent. I am grateful for your trust and the opportunity to serve, learn and grow in such a wonderful community and district. I wish only the very best for the entire school community.”
Also at the meeting, the board of education selected Kristen Bawks as the next superintendent of St. Joseph Public Schools. Bawks currently serves as the district’s assistant superintendent.
The vote to name Bawks superintendent was seven to zero. She’ll take over August 1.
The board of education says during her 20 years with SJPS, Bawks has served as a teacher at E.P. Clarke, principal at Brown School, and as the assistant superintendent.
