After less than a year on the job, Lewis-Palmer D-38’s leader is stepping down.

The school district’s board of education unanimously accepted Dr. Stacie Datteri’s resignation letter Tuesday night during its regular meeting.

In an official statement sent out to families and staff, board president Tiffiney Upchurch stated that they mutually agreed to part ways after Datteri expressed, “that some working relationships hadn’t developed as she had hoped.”

In her resignation letter, she added that she is “grateful” for her experiences as D-38’s superintendent and thanked district staff, students, families, community members and its board of education for their support.

“On behalf of the board, we want to extend our gratitude to Dr. Datteri for her service to Lewis-Palmer School District 38,” Upchurch wrote. “We appreciate her dedication to supporting our students and staff, as well as her contributions throughout the past several months. We all wish Dr. Datteri the best in her future endeavors.”

During a discussion ahead of the vote, board treasurer Ron Schwarz said that Datteri did the “consummate professional thing” and “decided to put the students first” with her decision. 

Datteri was unanimously selected by the board to succeed K.C. Somers as D-38’s superintendent April 15, 2024. She came to the Tri-Lakes area from Greeley-Evans School District 6 as an assistant superintendent. She’s also worked as a teacher in Yuma before her administrative work in Greeley.

During her brief tenure, Datteri oversaw the development of the district’s incoming Career and Innovation Center which will expand its career and technical education to students, worked with the district through transitioning of the Grace Best Education Center and revised the district’s strategic plan.

Assistant superintendent Amber Whetstine will assume Datteri’s role as the board begins the search for her successor. They will begin this process at their Feb. 4 work session. 

“Rest assured that we will stay committed to keeping our staff, families, and community informed throughout the transition while keeping the best interest of our students at the forefront of all our decisions,” Upchurch wrote.