Santaluces High School has dismissed athletic director Devin Woods less than three months after hiring him, marking the latest turnover in a position that has seen six athletic directors in six years.
Woods said he was informed Monday, Sept. 28, that he was being removed from the position during his 90-day probationary period, which allows the school to end his employment without cause.
His departure came days after communication between Santaluces and the Florida High School Athletic Association regarding suspended football coach Hector Clavijo III's appearance in the press box during the Chiefs' Sept. 25 game.
Woods said he believes the timing was not coincidental.
"It just adds up that after receiving the report from the FHSAA regarding coach
Hector's appearance, I was let go," Woods said.
Woods' dismissal was announced in an email sent to Santaluces staff by principal Tameka Robinson. While Woods was not mentioned by name, the email informed staff of a leadership change within the athletic department.
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"There has been a change in the leadership for the athletic department," the email reads. "Effective immediately, please direct all athletic department questions, concerns, and operational matters to Mr. Argain, Assistant Principal who oversees athletics while we work through this transition."
The Palm Beach County School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement to The Post, Woods said he accepted the position with a commitment to ensuring compliance with FHSAA bylaws, district policies and school policies.
"I understood my responsibility to be making sure those standards were followed consistently, not only by coaches and student-athletes but by administration as well and not only by select individuals," Woods said.
Woods said his insistence that those standards be applied equally raised "legitimate questions worth asking about the athletic director position at Santaluces, including why the school has continued to experience turnover in that role."
Santaluces has had six athletic directors in the past six years. The school is now expected to begin searching for its seventh athletic director during that span.
"When an athletic director comes in with experience, establishes expectations, insists that bylaws and policies are followed, and holds administration accountable to those same standards, it is fair to ask why those expectations create conflict and hostility within the existing structure," Woods said.
Woods concluded by saying he is proud of his work at Santaluces and believes the school community "deserves transparency."
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Santaluces High School dismisses athletic director Devin Woods
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