Matt Johnson, the high school principal placed on paid administrative leave twice by Evergreen Public Schools since March 16, has resigned from his job at Mountain View High School and will resign from the district effective June 30, 2022, as a result of a settlement agreement with the district.
In an all-staff email sent at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Johnson said the decision to resign as Mountain View’s principal is “in the best interest of the entire Mountain View School community” following “collaborative conversations with the district,” he wrote.
Johnson submitted his resignations Tuesday, and his resignations were approved by the district’s board of directors that night but Johnson will remain employed within the district in 2021-22.
District spokeswoman Gail Spolar said Wednesday that Johnson will transition to be a “principal on special assignment” as a planning coordinator for the district’s planned expansion of its Career and Technical Education program. It’s a one-year position starting July 1, and a lateral move within the district, Spolar said.
Upon the end of the 2021-22 school year, Johnson will resign from the district — the result of a settlement agreement made between Johnson and the district, according to Spolar.
The Columbian’s request for Johnson’s resignation letter was not provided by the district at press time. Spolar directed The Columbian to file a public records request for the settlement agreement, which also spells out Johnson’s salary for next school year, she added.
Johnson made $165,587 this school year as principal.
The district first placed Johnson on paid administrative leave March 16 to investigate individual complaints made by some school staff. He was reinstated by the district April 21, then placed back on leave April 22 to investigate the impact of an email Johnson wrote to staff the day before his scheduled return.
Johnson has worked in the district since 2000 and became principal of Mountain View in 2014. Said Johnson in his note to staff Wednesday: “It’s been an honor to serve and work alongside each of you for the past seven years. I wish nothing but the best for the Thunder family.”
