TRAVERSE CITY -- The principal of a local charter high school who was removed and reinstated nearly two weeks ago has resigned, in part because of a drunken driving arrest, he said.
Cameron Owens, former school leader at the year-old Traverse City College Preparatory Academy in East Bay Township, submitted his letter of resignation last week. His last day was Friday.
Owens, 48, was arrested Sept. 25 on suspicion of drunken driving, according to court records. He faces a misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated, his second offense.
He was convicted in 2005 of a drunken driving charge in Ann Arbor.
Owens said he was at home the evening of Sept. 25 when a friend called and asked for a ride from the Timber Lanes bowling alley in Garfield Township. Owens said he made a "poor decision" in driving.
A Grand Traverse County sheriff's deputy saw Owens' vehicle leave the bowling alley about 9:30 p.m. and head north on Garfield Avenue without headlights on, according to a police report.
His blood-alcohol level tested at 0.10 and 0.11, above the legal limit, court records show.
Owens learned that week he was being reassigned within The Leona Group LLC, a for-profit educational company that operates charter schools across the country.
Earlier on Sept. 25, students boycotted classes and parents held a meeting to argue for his reinstatement. Leona Group officials allowed Owens to stay temporarily until a new school leader could be named.
Owens told Fred Stofflet, executive vice president of The Leona Group's Midwest branch, about his arrest a day later. His resignation letter indicated "personal reasons," to which Stofflet would not elaborate Monday.
A letter was sent home to students and parents Friday, signed by a Leona Group official and Sheri Wallace, chairwoman of the principal search committee.
"Cameron Owens has resigned as the school's leader effective immediately," it reads. "We are confident that Mr. Owens' decision is in his and the academy's best interest."
A committee is meeting to review and recommend a new school leader, a process that should take about 30 days, the letter states.
Owens told a few staff members and parents of his arrest, but addressed students before he resigned without going into specifics.
"If you're making poor decisions, maybe you need to look inside," he said. "I would have to deal with my own consequences and have to take responsibility, as I always told them about decision-making."
Marguerite Forrest, an 11-year Leona Group employee, started as interim principal Monday. She will not apply for the permanent job.
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