OTTAWA — Ottawa school Supt. Jeanne Stroh has announced her retirement effective June 30. The Ottawa school board is expected to vote on her retirement at tonight’s meeting. Board president Susan Ward said she expects that the board will immediately begin the search for Stroh’s successor and will interview three recruitment firms. Stroh has been superintendent since 2013 from Hutchinson, where she was an assistant superintendent. Among the highlights of her tenure include a successful bond issue that build the new Sunflower Elementary School, and the start of a revamping of how schools educate students under the new Kansas Can program. “I can’t tell the community how much I appreciate the support they’ve given me,” Stroh said. “They welcomed me completely. It wasn’t ever just about me; it was the whole community, our parents and our staff … we came together and did a lot for kids.” Stroh plans to move to San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to her family. She said she’ll look for education positions in or around San Antonio. “It’s more about the place and not about the job. Now, I have to have a job because I love this work and I would be completely lost if I had nothing to do — and I have no hobbies,” she laughed. “This is something I love to do.” Once a recruitment firm is selected, the school board will advertise for a new superintendent during November and hope to have a successor named in December, Ward said. The search process will designed to solicit community input, she said.
Monday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m.
