An Indiana school superintendent resigned this month, just over a week after being charged with insurance fraud for using her own insurance to help a sick student.
Casey Smitherman resigned Friday from her post as superintendent of Elwood Community Schools, according to Fox59 News in Indianapolis.
Smitherman said in a statement to Fox59 that she hopes her “lapse in judgement” does not “tarnish” her accomplishments over her career as an educator.
“I have dedicated my entire professional career to children and ensuring they have the best possible chance of success,” Smitherman said. “My record of accomplishments clearly shows I have been successful in doing that.”
“Unfortunately, my recent lapse in judgment has brought negative attention to the community and myself,” she continued. “I am very embarrassed for that, and I apologize to the board, the community and the teachers and students of Elwood Community Schools.”
Smitherman was charged in January with official misconduct, insurance fraud, insurance application fraud and identity deception after taking a sick student who she said exhibited symptoms of strep throat to an emergency clinic and claiming he was her son.
She told police that she also used her son’s name to fill a prescription for the 15-year-old student. The total insurance claim for the visit was $233.
Smitherman said at the time that she knew her actions were “wrong” but that her “only concern was for this child’s health.” She said that she has helped the student in the past by bringing him clothes and helping clean his house, and expressed concerns about the teen’s welfare.
The school board voted in the district’s assistant superintendent to replace Smitherman in the interim.