UPDATE Thursday April 25 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — At least five people, including Director Richard Crandall, have resigned from the Wyoming Department of Education since Superintendent Cindy Hill was reinstated as the department's top official last Friday.

Dean Fausset, of the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, said Wednesday that Crandall and senior human resources adviser Karen Kelly resigned Friday.

Their resignations followed a ruling by a district court judge that most of last year's law removing Hill from the agency is unconstitutional.

Fausset said three more people in Crandall's leadership team have resigned.

Hill says several others may resign as well. She noted that resignations are common with a leadership change.

The department employs about 140 people.

UPDATE...

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill has issued a response to comments made by interim Superintendent Rich Crandall.

Crandall said Wednesday that 4 staff members have resigned from the Department of Education since Hill returned to the job, and more would probably follow.

Hill sent a press release to Wyoming press outlets insisting the employees involved were support staff for Crandall and their resignations were not surprising.

ORIGINAL STORY...

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The man who temporarily ran the Wyoming Department of Education says a handful of employees have quit since Superintendent Cindy Hill was restored to power and that more resignations could be coming.

The Casper Star-Tribune reported Tuesday that former department director Rich Crandall declined to identify the employees who left.

He says some department employees have one or more job offers and that he's written about 10 letters of recommendation.

Hill, an elected official, returned to the department Monday after about 15 months. Lawmakers unhappy with her performance passed a law stripping her of her authority, but the state Supreme Court ruled the law was unconstitutional.

Crandall was appointed to run the department after the law passed.

Education department spokesman Travis Hoff declined to comment on any resignations.

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