Dr. Stephen Pruitt has resigned as Kentucky education commissioner.

The board agreed to accept Pruitt's resignation, even though he had the ability to complete his term as there were no grounds for termination. The board held a lengthy closed session which lasted close to four hours.

This comes after Gov. Matt Bevin announced seven board of education appointments, including the recently resigned Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. Bevin also offered criticism of Pruitt's tenure as it pertained to student achievement.

"I like him as a person but again, I’m not happy to see 16,000 more kids falling below a level of proficiency than just two years ago. Is that one person's responsibility? No," Bevin said during a Tuesday morning news conference.

Board chairman Milton Seymore, who was elected to the position Tuesday, says Pruitt "was not pushed out."

Pruitt will be compensated for 90 days plus other benefits. Pruitt still had more than a year left on his term.

The board voted to name Dr. Wayne Lewis as interim commissioner. Lewis is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Education and chair of the Kentucky Charter Schools Advisory Council.

Seymore said the search for a full-time education commissioner will begin in the next few weeks.