She was hired to implement many of the reforms that were recommended after the death of Katelynn Frazier, but after less than a year, Pamela Hyde has resigned as chief of services at Alexandria's Department of Human Services.
Hyde came to the city in February 2002, after a national search. She was presented to City Council as "exactly the kind of person we need to oversee some of the reforms." She resigned in January.
"Pam submitted her resignation on Jan. 1, and it was effective on Jan. 31," said Beverly Steele, the acting director at DHS. "Her mother is very ill in Missouri, and she had some other personal reasons for wanting to return to her home.
Steele said that the agency would not conduct another national search but would rely on the normal channels for filling a state position. "We do not have to reclassify the job because that was done previously," she said. "We are going to make some changes to the responsibilities, though. Pam did a lot of work with the community. While that was very important, we need the new director to be more responsible for clinical and administrative supervision."
City Manager Philip Sunderland does not see anything amiss with Hyde's resignation. "Pam's return to the Midwest to be with her ill mother is unfortunate," he said. "However, I have no doubt that a solid replacement will be found and relatively soon, and thus, the positive movement in the department will be maintained."