Bridgeport's Board of Education will soon have to restart its search for a new superintendent.

Interim School Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz said Wednesday she will be stepping down at the end of this year.

In a letter released Wednesday addressed to board Chairman Dennis Bradley, Rabinowitz says she is resigning because of board member Maria Pereira's "negative crusade to undermine and discredit much of what we have built for children in this school district."

Pereira has repeatedly called on Rabinowitz to step down, while other board members, including Bradley, have called Pereira a bully and are currently boycotting board meetings until she resigns.

"We have one voice on the Board of Education that says, 'no we don't want you to be here' for whatever political reason that she has and it's enough harassment to lose such an immense talent that Fran Rabinowitz is and was to our district," says Chairman Bradley.

Pereira tells News 12 Connecticut she's pleased with Rabinowitz's decision and says it's in the best interest of the school system.

Rabinowitz says she is looking forward to spending more time with her family.