Superintendent Robert Shannon announced that he is retiring at last week’s school board meeting. He has more than earned it after over several decades of working for the school district.

“I’ll be almost 66 years of age in July, and for a number of years my wife and I have talked about [retiring]. My wife has been retired for a number of years and I’ve decided to join her,” Shannon said.

Shannon oversaw the $97.5 million bond issue, hired and mentored the many talented and intelligent staff and administrators and has made sure the schools have maintained good relationship with the communities. Kansas schools have been suffering from the budget cuts that governor Sam Brownback has made on schools, and this has been a significant issue on Shannon’s plate.

“In recent years with the state budgetary situation the goal is to maintain continuity for students and staff of the operation of the schools with increasingly difficult financial circumstances, to make those square up has been very challenging,” Shannon said.

His community involvement will not end with retirement, however.

“I am sure I will do more volunteer work in the community then I have been able to do, I like that kind of thing,” Shannon said.

Over his decades of work in the school district, the most positive moments have been found in those around him.

“I think my favorite part of my job would be working with the staff, our teachers, administration and support staff who care a lot about students and education and I think that would be the top memory that I will take with me when I leave the office,”  Shannon said. “I’ll miss the people, there are so many caring and dedicated people in the occupation of education.”