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Prince George's County school officials announced today that Superintendent John E. Deasy will leave the district at the end of November, instead of the end of January, as previously planned when he announced his departure Sept. 30.

Deputy Superintendent William R. Hite, Jr. will take over leadership of the district as interim superintendent while the school board conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Board members have encouraged Hite to vie for the job, which he said he plans to do.

In a statement, Board Chairwoman Verjeana M. Jacobs (At-Large) said the board would "look for a person who is the best fit for our school district from qualified candidates who may want to join us from within our county or beyond our borders."

Deasy announced in September he would leave the school system at the end of January to take a position as deputy director of education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – a nonprofit founded by billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates that focuses on world health and access to education in the U.S.

School spokesman John White said the school board and school staff felt comfortable the process was going smoothly enough for Deasy to transition to his new position sooner than planned.

The statement also said the board would establish a plan to invite public participation in the search for a new superintendent.

Deasy came under scrutiny in September after a Kentucky newspaper published reports that he received his Ph.D. after earning only nine credits at the University of Louisville. Deasy's resume does indicate he earned 30 credits beyond his master's degree, which could have been transferred to the University of Louisville. Deasy declined to release his academic records to the public, and the University of Louisville appointed a committee to investigate whether any wrongdoing occurred in awarding Deasy's degree.

Deasy maintains he did nothing wrong, and he said in a statement Sept. 11 that if the university did not follow its procedures and policies, his doctorate should be rescinded.

He said the scrutiny surrounding his Ph.D. had nothing to do with his resignation, and that the foundation had been pursuing him to take a job there.

E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.