Dugan cited the decline of the health of his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease, as the major reason for the announcement.
Dugan, whose career spans 27 years with WCSD, also served in the capacities of teacher, adminstrator, school counselor, middle school assistant principal and elementary school principal. He was appointed as superintendent in 2004.
"Certainly the last five years have been exciting and challenging and fun (as superintendent)," Dugan said. "But there's so many wonderful people in this district. That's my fondest memory – the people, the students and teachers and parents and community members and administrators."
According to a letter to the school board, Dugan wrote a separate letter to trustee president Barbara Clark that he would seek a position "less time-consuming and less stressful" to be able to tend to his wife's ailment.
Asked if he had accomplished all that he wanted to as superintendent, he exclaimed, "Oh, heck, no!"
"The job of education is so important and so challenging and so daunting ... but I feel good about the efforts, the direction this district has gone over the years and I feel good about the future," he said.
The outgoing superintendent also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club, Nevada Hispanic Services, Education Foundation and Education Collaborative and other professional memberships.
Dugan has a master’s degree in education from the University of San Diego. He served two years in the Peace Corps teaching in Afghanistan and two years teaching in Norway.
Dugan said he wanted to give the trustees, three of whom were elected in November's election, time to find a replacement but said he didn't think they'd really need help from him.
Clark said in Dugan’s letter to the board that the members accepted his decision with “profound regret.”
Trustee Estela Gutierrez said the announcement came as a shock, but that she respected his decision and admires his passion for education.
"There are things in life you cannot control," Gutierrez said. "Everybody has to take care of themselves. (Being superintendent) is a difficult task and a very unpopular position. But ... I don't think I've seen someone with so much dedication and made such an advancement in education. One thing I'm confident about is that he'll give his all between now and August.”
No timeline has been established for seeking a replacement, Clark said in the letter.
“While my wife and I are struggling with this disease, I am absolutely committed to advancing the agenda the board and I worked on for the past five years,” Dugan wrote in his letter. “I will continue to be a presence in the (Nevada) Legislature and in this community representing this district, our staff and our students.”
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