The superintendent of the Washington State School for the Blind, who has held the position since 2016, has announced his resignation this month due to threats from a disgruntled former employee. McCallum’s departure is effective August 15, and he was recently reappointed by Governor Bob Ferguson when he took office in January.
Pam Parker, the school’s outreach director, has been appointed as the interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year.
The institution serves students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind, with 50 students enrolled in the past academic year. The school employs approximately 100 full-time equivalent staff and operates on a state budget of around $29 million.
In his resignation letter to Governor Ferguson, McCallum cited ongoing harassment from the former employee as a significant factor in his decision, stating that it has caused considerable disruption within the agency. In a court filing in May related to the harassment, he expressed concerns that the former employee’s threats could escalate to violence, particularly given that many staff members are blind or visually impaired.
“Her persistent focus on us and the potential for violence, combined with our vulnerabilities, has left everyone feeling anxious and fearful,” he wrote. “I constantly alter my routes to work, park in different locations, and remain vigilant about my surroundings, including checking for her presence when I leave my house or walk my dogs.”
McCallum is nationally recognized for his contributions to the education of students with visual impairments, having played a key role in developing the nation’s first online adaptive state assessment accessible to Braille readers. In 2022, he received the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award from the National Federation of the Blind.
