After announcing West Potomac High School principal Alex Case and assistant principal Michelle Lyttle were on administrative leave Feb. 13, Region 3 assistant superintendent Terry Dade sent a letter to the West Potomac community Feb. 24 informing them of Case’s resignation.

Case has been principal for the last four years.

Lyttle remains on leave, according to Fairfax County Public Schools spokesman John Torre.

Retired principal Dale Rumberger, who opened Westfield High School in 2000 and South County High School in 2004, took over as interim principal at West Potomac effective Feb. 21.

“[Mr. Rumberger’s] considerable educational experience will provide West Potomac High School the leadership necessary as we move to identify a new school leader,” Dade writes in the letter.

In his resignation letter, forwarded by Dade, Case says the decision to step down was not an easy one to make, after nearly a decade of work in the community as a teacher, assistant activities director, assistant principal and principal.

“Yet I am excited to pursue new opportunities to serve our community while also dedicating more time to my family,” Case writes, “which has been challenging while working so tirelessly to champion the excellence we so consistently see from you and throughout all parts of West Potomac High School.”

No other explanation has been given so far, for both administrators’ absence or Case’s resignation.

Dade said more information with regards to the principal search process will be provided in the coming weeks.