Citing her husband’s health, Cheryl Merk is resigning as Goza Middle School’s principal

arkadelphian.com

“This decision has not been easy for me,” Merk said in a letter sent to parents and district administrators.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease have taken a toll on her husband’s declining health, Merk said, and “providing him with full-time care has become necessary.”

Merk has been an administrator at Arkadelphia Public Schools for 13 years. Her resignation becomes effective Oct. 31.

“I genuinely wish to be a part of our school community’s growth and progress in the coming year,” Merk’s letter states, “but my current circumstances require my full attention elsewhere.”

Following a brief meeting in executive session on Oct. 3, the Arkadelphia Board of Education accepted Merk’s resignation and named Tisha Hunter as the interim principal at Goza. Hunter will take the reins on Nov. 1. Hunter was named assistant principal at Goza in July 2022.