Two days after the city’s Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao visited West Seattle to talk with the Southwest District Council, there’s word she’s leaving the job after four years. The mayor’s office just sent the announcement – read it in full after the jump:

After meeting with Mayor Mike McGinn, Stella Chao and the mayor agreed that the director’s name would not be put forward for reconfirmation by the City Council.

In a letter to her staff, Chao said the four-year appointment by previous Mayor Greg Nickels “has flown by quickly, and it has truly been a privilege to serve the community in this post.”

Mayor McGinn issued the following statement:

“I’d like to thank Stella Chao for her able leadership of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Stella was appointed four years ago to direct the Department of Neighborhoods, and in that role she has helped build the city’s strong sense of neighborhood identity and pride, as well as give greater voice to residents of underrepresented communities of color and immigrants.

“Before her time as Neighborhoods Director, Stella was an accomplished community activist. She is also a strong voice for human services and the environment. I wish her well in her next ventures.”

Chao’s last day as director will be Jan. 31.

We’re still writing the story of her Wednesday night appearance, during which she was questioned closely about the decision to move Southwest District coordinator Stan Lock out of West Seattle even though the Neighborhood Service Center where he has worked is remaining open.

Since three other coordinator jobs were cut, she has announced a plan to have the 10 remaining coordinators form three “teams” by region, and Lock will be on the Central team, not the South team, which will work with the Southwest (western West Seattle) district as well as the Delridge (eastern West Seattle) district and the Greater Duwamish district (just east of West Seattle).

Before today’s announcement, she was scheduled to be at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting on January 19th. We’ll be checking to see if that’s still on.