South Portland School Board member Jennifer Ryan announced her resignation last week.

“This decision was not made lightly, it has truly been an honor serving on the board these past four years,” Ryan stated in a letter dated March 25. “However, after careful consideration, I do believe this action is necessary for my mental and physical health.”

Ryan has served on the seven-member board since 2021, taking on the role of vice chair in 2022 and chair in 2023.

In a phone call on Tuesday, Ryan said “tensions are high” on a number of issues the board has been tackling recently, including the next budget, but her priority right now is family.

“First and foremost, my priority is to my family and to my son,” she said.

Ryan added that she has “the utmost confidence” in the school district.

“Being a parent in the school district … I feel confident in the people that surround him, the education that he’s getting and the experience he’s having in South Portland schools,” she said.

In her letter, Ryan said she is grateful for the opportunity to have served on the board for the past four years.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have supported such a dedicated team of educators and administrators in the district and to have contributed to the important work of the board in South Portland,” she wrote in her letter. “I hope that the board will continue to strive for a positive and collaborative atmosphere for the benefit of all members and the community.”

Ryan said she is looking forward to continuing to serve the community in other ways.

The South Portland City Council will soon decide to either temporarily fill the vacancy or leave it vacant until the next election.