San Marcos CISD Superintendent Mark Eads will be "resigning from public education" Jan. 31. In a Sept. 10 letter sent to district staff and school board trustees, Eads said he is proud of the work accomplished at the district during his tenure, including the passage of a bond and the formation of the Core Four, a collaborative group including the district, Texas State University, the city of San Marcos and Hays County, which aims to improve educational outcomes within the district. San Marcos CISD Superintendent Mark Eads, who has been with the district since May 2011, plans to resign from public education on January 31.[/caption] “[SMCISD] is the best kept secret in Central Texas,” Eads wrote in the letter. “The systemic plans of action, partnerships and having the best team member in place will allow SMCISD to continue on the journey of being the 'Learning Community of Texas.' ” Trustee Miguel Arredondo said Eads’ decision comes as a surprise, considering the board voted in August to extend his contract to August 2017. He said he wishes Eads well and thanked him for his service to the district. “I think our district is in a completely different spot than where it was when he first started, for the better,” Arredondo said. “The community support for our schools is at the best point it’s been in a number of years.” Arredondo said he hopes the search for a new superintendent begins quickly while the district has forward momentum. He said he also expects the process to take time because most candidates eligible for the position will have just signed contracts in time for the 2015-16 school year. In the letter, Eads said he and his family plan to stay active in the community. Eads could not be reached for comment.