A senior administrator at UCSD’s nationally recognized Preuss
School went on leave late last
month, though university officials are denying any connection to the recent
investigation into administrative mismanagement and inappropriate grade
changes.

Jamie Esperon, the charter school’s assistant dean of
students, took leave from her position on Feb. 28. Though she did not provide
an official reason for Esperon’s departure, UCSD spokeswoman Dolores Davies
said it was not related to the university audit that implicated many senior
administrators, including the school’s former principal, in the altering of
students’ grades.

Davies said that employee privacy issues prevent her from
discussing the terms of Esperon’s leave, including whether it was mandated or
pursued voluntarily.

Since joining the school in 2003, Esperon served as a
counselor for sixth through eighth graders and also presented information about
Preuss to students at San Diego
schools. She worked as part of a three-person team that included Phil Ensberg,
the school’s senior counselor, who returned from paid leave following the
audit’s release in December. Davies said it would be premature to speculate
when Esperon may return to work.

The school’s leaders are currently formulating a plan to
resolve any practical issues created by Esperon’s departure.

“[Acting Principal] Scott Barton is working with his
administrative team to ensure that all counseling needs are filled,” Davies
said.

Although university officials reserved the right to pursue
further disciplinary actions against employees after the audit’s release, none
are currently planned, she added.

Preuss Board of Directors Chair Susan Kirkpatrick declined
to comment. However, board member Hugh “Bud” Mehan said he looked into the
circumstances of the incident and found they had no correlation to the audit.

“This is a matter that has nothing to do with the board,”
said Mehan, who also serves as director of UCSD’s Center for Research on
Educational Equity, Assessment and Teaching Excellence. “It’s a matter of an
entirely different sort.”

Per the audit’s recommendations, UCSD’s Vice Chancellor of
Resource Management and Planning Gary C. Matthews recently hired MGT of
America, an external consulting firm, to independently review the school’s
operations.

Davies said the review will likely be completed within three
to four months.