Watertown superintendent of schools Jean Fitzgerald, whose leadership was sharply criticized by a group of parents this summer, announced her retirement from the district Monday night.

The announcement came just before the School Committee meeting, where Fitzgerald read a statement that was later sent to faculty members, and was posted in full on the school system’s Facebook page.

“As this school year begins, I have decided to make such a change in my own career as an educator,’’ the statement said. “After a long and rewarding career in public education, I am today announcing my retirement from the Watertown Public Schools. I will remain in my current role until the beginning of October to allow the School Committee to facilitate a transition.’’

Fitzgerald, who was named superintendent in 2012, was the focus of a recent Change.org petition calling for a vote of no confidence in her leadership. A group of local parents demanded that she be removed from her position due to what they said was incompetence and poor decision-making.

Parents who supported the petition told the Globe in August that Fitzgerald didn’t seek enough input from stakeholders before making decisions, and failed to keep parents and staff updated on changes occurring in the district.

School Committee chairman John Portz said Fitzgerald will remain in her position until Friday, Oct. 7. He hopes that the interim superintendent will succeed her soon after, if not overlap during her final weeks.

“It’s a fairly short time frame, but it’s possible,’’ he said.

Portz did not comment on whether the resignation was related to the recent petition, and instead deferred to Fitzgerald to comment on the timing of her retirement.

Fitzgerald responded by providing a copy of the statement she made to the School Committee, but did not address whether the timing of her announcement was related to the petition.

“She’s made some great contributions,’’ Portz said. “I made some comments [at the School Committee meeting] about the curriculum initiatives she’s introduced. We have a great language program starting in elementary school. She’s also done a good job working with our business manager strengthening the budget. We have a very strong budget.’’

Fitzgerald first joined the district as an assistant superintendent in 2009, and took over as interim superintendent in 2011. Fitzgerald was named superintendent the next year, and earns a salary of $180,000 a year.

After the petition was launched, Fitzgerald questioned its legitimacy in an interview with the Globe, and suggested that some of the signatures might be fake. “There’s a hidden agenda, for whatever reason. And it’s very upsetting to me,’’ she said in August.

The School Committee will hold a public meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers to discuss the process of selecting an interim superintendent and a permanent superintendent.

Allison Pohle can be reached at allisonpohle@gmail.com.