MARIETTA — Alice Stouder, Cobb’s deputy superintendent of leadership and learning, confirmed Monday that she will retire as of June 30. Her decision comes less than three weeks after the school board voted, 6-1, to renew her contract for another year.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa will recommend to the school board today that Dr. Cheryl Hungerford, the district’s chief of staff, take Stouder’s place, and that area assistant superintendent Dr. Angela Huff step in as chief of staff.

Stouder, 56, has spent her entire career in Cobb Schools. She began teaching at Murdock Elementary School in northeast Cobb in 1978, after earning a bachelor’s in education at Georgia State University. She also has masters’ degrees in middle grades education and in administration from Georgia State, and an educational specialist degree from Jacksonville State University.

“I went into administration after about six years, which is pretty early, but I love administration work,” said Stouder, who has also been an assistant principal, principal and an area assistant superintendent in Cobb. “I love the people in Cobb, and I’ve made fabulous friendships over the past 34 years.”

At this time last year, Stouder was interim deputy superintendent and believed to be a candidate for the top job.

Her contract for next year was renewed by the school board on March 22, though board member Kathleen Angelucci voted against it in the 6-1 vote.

Stouder denied her decision to retire stemmed from that vote.

“Absolutely not,” she said.

As for what she’ll do in retirement, Stouder is not sure. Her mother has Alzheimer’s, she said.

“Since I took this position, I see her maybe once a week, and it’s really starting to take its toll on her and me. I think she deserves better and I’ve got my years in,” she said.

Hinojosa said Stouder will be greatly missed.

“I understand her family situation and respect her decision. She was of tremendous help to me in my first year,” he said. “Even though she is retiring, I hope she can continue to be an asset to the district she loves so much.”

Stouder was named as the deputy superintendent of leadership and learning last September along with a nearly $10,000 pay raise after Hinojosa reorganized his executive cabinet. She and five others got pay raises and her salary increased from $129,998 to $138,000.