In an email sent out to the Mt. Hope community Wednesday morning, Dr. Deb DiBiase announced that she would not be returning as the principal of Mt. Hope High School, and would instead be accepting a director-level position within the Bristol Warren Regional School District.

“Moving forward, I will be the Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), a district-level position,” DiBiase wrote. “Although I will no longer be solely at Mt. Hope High School, this position will allow me to continue working in the entire community with administrators, teachers, students, families, and community partners throughout all the schools in the district.”

DiBiase wrote that the role will task her with collaborating with schools to implement evidence-based behavioral and academic systems of support throughout the district at a K-12 level. Her work will focus on improving the graduation dropout rate, improving social emotional learning, and improving climate and culture throughout the schools.

Dr. DiBiase said that she was grateful for the support she has been shown throughout the past several weeks — a time where demonstrations, online petitions garnering thousands of signatures and lawn signs have popped up calling for her contract to be renewed as principal of Mt. Hope High School.

“Your confidence and belief in me has encouraged me to keep moving forward. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you,” she wrote. “My hope is that as I take on this new endeavor I will be able to make a difference in achieving our vision of strengthening all schools while providing students personalized support and meaningful learning experiences in a safe, nurturing environment.”

“I am extremely proud of all we have achieved at Mt. Hope High School over the past eight years,” she concluded. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside our amazing students, staff, families and community. The work continues and I look forward to our ongoing partnership. Although one chapter is closed, I am excited to begin a new journey  alongside such a wonderful community!”

Superintendent Ana Riley could not be immediately reached for a comment.