The expert charged with transforming Bermuda's public schools is likely to leave the Island before his two-year contract runs out in June, The Royal Gazette has been told.

Three sources say that US consultant Henry Johnson — brought here on a $250,000-a-year deal in 2007 — could be gone within weeks, though the reason for his possible departure is unknown.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Education could not confirm or deny the story yesterday. He said: "Dr. Johnson will be with the department long enough to ensure a smooth transition between himself and the incoming commissioner of education, who is yet to be identified."

One education source told this newspaper: "No official announcement has come out yet but we have all pretty much heard about it. The rumour mill has it that it is going to be by the end of this month.

"His contract was until the end of June and we have heard that he is supposedly leaving us prematurely. What pre-empted it or prompted it, I can't tell you."

Another source said Dr. Johnson would be gone by March, with a third saying he had tendered his resignation.

Dr. Johnson was named as the Island's new consultant executive officer for education in September 2007 following the release in May of the highly critical Hopkins report on public schools.

Just over a year later, he was also handed the newly-created job of commissioner of education, a role he was to carry out in conjunction with his original duties and for no extra pay until his contract ended in June 2009.

Dr. Johnson — who was previously US assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the George W. Bush administration — could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

His tenure on the Island has not been without controversy. Answers to parliamentary questions last year revealed that his contract included the perk of a monthly business class return airfare home as well as a housing allowance of up to $7,000 a month.

He flew business class back to the States every month between November 2007 and July 2008, costing taxpayers more than $11,000.

In October last year, union leaders questioned his role, with BPSU president Armell Thomas asking why he was able to get the job of commissioner without leaving the Island and applying for it.

Former Trade Union Congress president Maynard Dill said Dr. Johnson seemed to have a "very adverse attitude" when it came to hearing what school principals had to say.

The first source told this newspaper that many teachers and principals felt Dr. Johnson had not brought about the promised reform of public schools, as urgently recommended by Professor David Hopkins and his team.

"He is qualified, yes, but we need someone who is more grassroots. He has a lot of experience and talent but before he came to Bermuda he was more of a policy analyst.

"With us, we needed somebody who could get down in the trenches and give us some direction as to where we need to go. At the point he came to us in Bermuda, he was so far removed from the teachers.

"I think people were expecting that the CEO coming in was going to be this person who was grassroots. He just didn't do it. Reform is not implemented at all."

Dr. Johnson said in November he was concerned about how much improvement had been made in public schools and wished education leaders would stop squabbling over the reform.

The Ministry invited applications for the Commissioner's post - which attracts a $150,000-a-year salary - in December.