A fourth elementary school principal is planning to step down at the end of this school year, sending the district in search of a replacement ahead of next fall. 

Oak Bluffs School principal Megan Farrell notified parents Thursday that she will be stepping down at the end of August as she takes on increasing elder care responsibilities and explores part-time education roles. 

Her departure means superintendent Richard Smith will be on the hunt for three principals. Earlier this week, Edgartown principal Shelley Einbinder announced she would retire in July. Her assistant principal MaryAnn Bartlett is also stepping down at the end of the year.

Those principals are following Chilmark School Susan Stevens, who announced late last year that she planned to retire after nearly 50 years in education. The district recently hired Concord teacher Kate Squires to take her place. 

For Ms. Farrell, the decision to retire came with mixed emotions, but she believed the school was on the right path.  

“I am confident that I am leaving the Oak Bluffs School staff and students on a continuous improvement trajectory with an emphasis on social/emotional learning in a safe, secure, and welcoming school facility,” she wrote in her letter. 

She went on to thank the school's educational leadership, expressed gratitude for board members and praised the school’s staff. 

“I am forever indebted to the outstanding Oak Bluffs School staff, at all levels,” she wrote. “They are an extraordinary group of committed educators that continuously give 110 per cent of themselves so students can succeed, and families can grow.” 

Ms. Farrell was hired as the permanent principal in 2016, after serving as the interim when Jack Rizzo suddenly resigned after less than a year on the job. At the time, she had been at the school for 19 years, working as a teacher and a reading specialist before becoming an administrator.

Ms. Farrell, Mr. Smith and Oak Bluffs school committee chair Kathryn Shertzer did not immediately return requests for comment. 

The Oak Bluffs school board is also going through a shakeup. Longtime member Kris O’Brien is not running for reelection at the April 11 town election and no other candidates returned papers to get on the ballot.