“I have made the difficult decision to step down from Richardson ISD school board, effective immediately,” Clardy wrote in her letter. “I have been a part of RISD for 32 years, and I have had the privilege to work alongside many wonderful parents, teachers and staff. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our students. I would also like to thank the many people who have supported me during my two terms as an RISD trustee.”
Clardy gave no reason for her resignation. She could not immediately be reached for comment.
“On behalf of the district, we thank Karen for her service to RISD, both on the board of trustees and her 25 years at Lake Highlands High School,” Stone said in a statement. “Her contributions and commitment to students and teachers have been impactful and real, and we wish her the very, very best moving forward.”
Clardy was elected to the board’s District 5 seat in 2017 and re-elected in 2019. She served as board president for the 2020-21 school year and was re-elected to that position in August for the 2021-22 school year.
“I've found Mrs. Clardy to be amazingly insightful when it comes to the initiatives Dr. Stone and her administrative team undertake that help our teachers and staff cope with the day-to-day responsibilities of educating our youngsters,” board member Eron Linn said in August when nominating her for the position.
RISD trustees are expected to formally consider Clardy’s resignation at an upcoming board meeting, according to district staff. The board's next scheduled meeting is Oct. 4. The District 5 seat is scheduled to be up for election in May 2022.
With Clardy’s exit from the board, District 4 trustee Regina Harris is the next highest-ranking member. She was chosen as the board’s vice president in August. Harris also could not immediately be reached for comment.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with a comment from Superintendent Jeannie Stone.
