The Education Directorate director-general Katy Haire has announced her retirement as the outcome of an integrity probe has not yet been finalised.
ACT head of service Kathy Leigh told staff of Ms Haire's retirement staff on Wednesday via email. Ms Haire's last day will be November 22.
"Over the last five years she has successfully led the Education Directorate to make real and lasting progress in relation to safety, school improvement and workforce retention," Ms Leigh said.
"Katy has also overseen the introduction of universal three year old preschool for one day a week for every ACT child and initiatives to strengthen literacy and numeracy practice."
Ms Haire said in a message to Education Directorate staff it was an "extraordinary privilege" to lead the directorate through a period marked by bushfires, hailstorms and the pandemic.
"The decision to retire was not easy, but I have chosen to return to my family in Victoria on my own terms," Ms Haire said.
"As much as I love this work and was tempted to stay longer, I have decided the time is right for me to move to the next stage of my life."
The education head was a key witness in the investigation into the procurement process for the Campbell Primary School modernisation project.
The Canberra Times does not suggest Ms Haire's retirement is related to the matter before the ACT Integrity Commission.
The commission heard Ms Haire approved a brief which recommended Lendlease be selected for the project even though local firm, Manteena, submitted a better and cheaper design.
It heard that Lendlease was favoured because it had a union agreement with its workers while Manteena had a direct agreement with employees.
Ms Haire launched legal action against the ACT Integrity Commission and the integrity commissioner Michael Adams KC, alleging there was an apprehended bias in the investigation.
She wanted to stop the commission from completing the investigation, preparing reports and holding public hearings into the matter, according to court documents.
The integrity investigation continued despite Ms Haire's legal action.
It was also revealed that the ACT government was paying the legal costs for Ms Haire's lawsuit.
Ms Haire has been the director-general of the ACT Education Directorate since December 2019.
