Jay Jackson, the director of operations for People Involved in Education (PIE), the nonprofit organization that runs Sand Ridge Charter School, announced his resignation at a meeting of the Lebanon School Board Monday night.

Jackson's resignation headed off a threat by the Lebanon board to impose sanctions up to and including termination of Sand Ridge's contract after the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission rejected Jackson's registration as a school administrator.

His voice quavering at times, Jackson told the Lebanon board he was resigning as director of operations of PIE effectively immediately.

"Putting students first is not just a slogan. It has to be an unyielding commitment…. No adult should allow himself to an obstacle to the pursuit of that vision," Jackson said before thanking the students, staff and families of Sand Ridge.

Jackson said in an interview later that he felt the time had come to resign because he felt he was being used as an obstacle to Sand Ridge's operation.

Jackson was replaced as president of PIE in June by Doug Miner. He remains on the board of directors "for now." His replacement as director of operations will be up to the PIE board, Jackson said.

Jackson had been the administrator of Sand Ridge from 2002 until this February when PIE appointed two Sand Ridge teachers as principals of the Sodaville and South Main campuses. A law that went into effect at the beginning of last school year requires all

administrators to be registered with the TSPC. Jackson sent TSPC his registration packet in December and additional information in March.

On May 15, Vickie Chamberlain, executive director of TSPC, denied Jackson's registration, citing several disciplinary actions by the Oregon State Bar and his failure to make sure Sand Ridge teachers were registered or licensed as the reason.

Jackson had appealed the ruling and requested a hearing. No hearing has yet been scheduled and Jackson said on Monday he was unsure whether he would pursue the appeal.

Chamberlain would not comment directly on Jackson's case, but said anyone who hires, supervises or evaluates licensed teaching staff must be registered with the state as an administrator.

In February, the Oregon Department of Education required the Lebanon School District to submit a plan showing how it would take action to stop Sand Ridge's "pattern of noncompliance" in registering charter school staff. ODE warned the district could face economic sanctions if the problem continued.

Lebanon board chair Josh Wineteer put a resolution on Monday's agenda that called PIE in breach of contract by keeping Jackson in an administrative position. The resolution reserved the right of the board to use all rights under the contract to resolve the situation, which could include termination of the charter school contract.

Wineteer said before the board meeting he was bringing the resolution up for discussion this month to send a signal to PIE that the district wanted the situation resolved and the board would vote whether or not to adopt it at the Sept. 2. board meeting.

The board dropped Wineteer's resolution after Assistant Superintendent Steve Kelley informed board members Jackson's resignation resolves the only outstanding Sand Ridge TSPC issue.