Aaron Poynton, president of the Harford County Board of Education, announced Thursday morning that he has resigned. The resignation happened Wednesday shortly after the school board voted to suspend Superintendent Sean Bulson, with pay.

Poynton sent an email to Harford Schools teachers and staff announcing the resignation and saying his decision was not influenced by the issues surrounding Bulson. He stated that his resignation stemmed from months of discussion with a new employer “regarding a chief executive officer role” and that he is scheduled to begin the position next week.

He also apologized that his resignation comes at a “time of turbulence” for the school system.

“This role will require my full-time attention and frequent extended travel outside of Harford County,” Poynton wrote. “With that in mind, I have no choice but to resign from my position on the Harford County Board of Education, effective today.”

He said his volunteer role on the school board was a “substantial and growing time commitment,” and said he found himself increasingly stretched and unable to give appropriate attention to other aspects of his life including his family and professional responsibilities.

Since Poynton is one of three board members appointed by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, the county executive will be tasked with filling the vacancy. However, any appointment Cassilly makes will be subject to approval by the Harford County Council.

Poynton was originally appointed to serve a two-year term in 2023, and was reappointed by Cassilly for another four-year term last year. The county executive appoints three board members, according to legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022. Before the 2022 legislation, those three appointments were made by the governor.

Poynton’s resignation follows a controversy this week involving Bulson and other school staff after a recording of a 911 call Bulson allegedly made to New Orleans Police in April 2024 surfaced Tuesday. In the call, a man who identified himself as Sean Bulson reported a theft of about $8,000 from his hotel room by an unknown woman after he fell asleep.

Bulson was attending a professional education conference in New Orleans on the same day as the 911 call.

Poynton was rumored to be with Bulson the night of the theft, but Poynton denies the claims and said he barely saw Bulson during the trip.

As of Thursday morning, Poynton had deleted his official Board of Education president page on Facebook.

State Del. Lauren Arikan, a Republican who has called for Bulson to resign due to the district’s hiring of a teacher facing felonies, said Poynton’s decision to resign was a “wise decision.”

Arikan criticized Poynton for a social media post he made after the board’s vote to place Bulson on leave, calling the post outlining the board’s conclusions and decision to place Bulson on leave “offensive and dismissive.”

“Harford County deserves better and I look forward to seeing who County Executive Cassilly replaces him with to start restoring trust between the public and the school system,” Arikan said.

This story will be updated. 
 
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