The Bradley County School Board voted 4-3 on Tuesday to buy out the remainder of the contract of Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel.
Longtime board member Christy Critchfield, a staunch McDaniel supporter, immediately resigned from the board after the vote, saying she no longer wanted to be associated with the board.
Voting in favor were Chris Turner, Charlie Rose, Vicki Beaty and Dianna Calfee.
The board will meet March 10 to discuss naming an interim director.
Mr. McDaniel, who was Tennessee Superintendent of the Year in 2013, will leave after the end of this week.
He said recently he felt it was time for him to leave.
A large number of McDaniel supporters were in the audience, and several spoke in his behalf.
The end of an employment agreement specified the original contract, which was a four-year contract to end on June 30, 2016, will instead end on March 1, 2015. Mr. McDaniel will receive his regular monthly salary and monthly automobile entitlement, in addition to compensation for his retirement plan and health insurance for Mr. McDaniel and his wife, until June 30, 2016.