Newton County School Board District 5 representative Dr. C.C. Bates announced Tuesday that she will not fulfill her first term on the school board and will resign her position in June.

Bates was approached by Clemson University approximately a year ago and in April accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at the university’s College of Education in South Carolina.

"It’s bittersweet," she told her fellow board members. "We love Newton County but we will be moving this summer."

She also thanked the board members for working with her schedule and occasionally changing things on her account.

"I have enjoyed working with you this year and my time on the board," she said. "It has been a pleasure. Thank you so much for all the support you have given me."

Bates last board meeting will be June 15, which will allow her to complete the budget cycle for the school system’s fiscal year 2011.

"You certainly have brought a lot of extra education and expertise that we don’t have to the position," said board member Cathy Dobbs. "You really gave us a lot of vision. We appreciate that and will miss that tremendously in the future."