The associate superintendent of schools for Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is resigning his position.

Chris Parker submitted a resignation letter to Superintendent Paul Soma Wednesday, saying he was leaving his role effective January 3. Parker indicated he was resigning to accept a position with MI-Excel, a state program focused on boosting academic achievement in school districts. Parker has worked with MI-Excel in his position at TCAPS and said he wanted to further pursue implementing the program in a new leadership role with that organization.

"This opportunity to help Michigan schools to improve student outcomes is something I am very passionate and excited about," Parker wrote in an email to co-workers announcing his departure. "There is never a good time to leave an organization, but I am confident the important work we have been engaged in will continue within the district. I look forward to hearing about the continued success of TCAPS students."

In a letter to his administrative team, Soma said he was "grateful for the contributions Chris has made while serving in the associate superintendent role for the last year-and-a-half," crediting Parker for receiving "statewide recognition" for the quality of his work. "It is not surprising that he would be selected to play a major role in the implementation of the blueprint for districts across the state. We will miss Chris, but look forward to working with him in his new role with the MI-Excel team," Soma said.

According to Soma, TCAPS will be rolling out "an interim structure in the coming weeks" to cover Parker's vacant position.