Freetown-Lakeville Superintendent Alan Strauss has resigned from his position as superintendent effectively immediately.

In a statement he read at Wednesday's School Committee meeting, Strauss alleged "abusive treatment" and "defamatory statements about my health" from two school committee members — Crystal Ng and Carolina Hernandez. Strauss also alleged "abusive treatment" by unnamed "Freetown officials."

"A person in a leadership position inevitably draws scrutiny and criticism. As a leader, I embrace constructive conversations, even when frustrations arise, and I respect the balance of criticism and praise," Strauss said in his public statement. "What I did not anticipate, however, was the reaction from a small group of local elected and appointed officials, including two School Committee members - Carolina Hernandez and Crystal Ng - and others in town government, who have made defamatory statements about my health."

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