The Union Local School District is saying goodbye to a longtime leader and member of the educational family, and an interim superintendent has been appointed to lead the district as the school year begins.

On Monday morning, Ben Porter submitted his resignation as superintendent of the school district, describing himself as mentally drained, particularly after leading Union Local through the past two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and recovery efforts.

“I have given everything I have to that position … and I mentally don’t have anything left to give to it. I’ve given my all, and it’s just time for a career change for me,” Porter said. “I’ll be in the market for employment. I don’t have a position right now, but we’ll see where things take me. … I think I’m going to step away from education for the time being and obviously if opportunities come along I will consider those, but I just need a bit of a change right now.”

The board Monday night appointed Sam Lucas of Barnesville as interim superintendent.

Porter had taken a brief leave in November and high school Principal Zac Shutler the helm of the district. Lockdowns and regulations have been a contentious subject, with the school board balancing objections to the precaution of masking against the possibility that an outbreak might cause the school to be shut down and students shift to distance learning.

Prior to the pandemic, building improvements and formulating long-term facilities and education plans had been top priorities. In recent months, the board has been considering a free health clinic for students in need of on-site treatment and service.

“It’s a tough job, and it’s been a rough couple years in the position,” Porter said. “Education’s a tough field right now and people are passionate in a lot of different ways, and being able to bring everyone together is quite the challenge.”

A 1993 Union Local graduate, Porter has been superintendent for the past eight years. Prior to that, he was special education coordinator and worked as a teacher.

Among Porter’s accomplishments in the superintendent’s job, he mentioned efforts to increase security and bring in resource officers following the end of the district’s contract with the village of Bethesda.