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Seven Kent ISD superintendents are leaving their positions

According to Ronald Caniff, the superintendent at Kent ISD, it is a higher number of departures than normal, but it is mostly due to "timing and coincidence."
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A total of seven superintendents from Kent ISD are leaving their positions at the end of this school year.

The superintendents from Thornapple Kellogg, Wyoming, Caledonia, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, East Grand Rapids and Sparta Public Schools will all not be returning at the start of the 2018-19 school year.

According to Ronald Caniff, the superintendent at Kent ISD, it is a higher number of departures than normal, but it is mostly due to "timing and coincidence."

Caniff also said that many of the superintendents are retiring, and the others are moving on to new opportunities. "Most are retiring after long careers as teacher leaders, building and central office administrators, with their position as superintendent the capstone of a productive career," he said.

"These are demanding jobs – superintendents are held accountable for the actions of every school employee and student, in and out of school – so it is not surprising that many of our educational leaders retire at an age that may be younger than others in the workplace."

Three of the seven superintendent positions have already been filled. Two of those were filled by internal candidates, Rob Blitchock at Thornapple Kellogg and Craig Hoekstra at Wyoming. And in Caledonia, the new superintendent will be Dedrick Martin, the current School Reform Officer for the Michigan Department of Education.

The other four districts are still in the process of interviewing and searching for their new superintendents.

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