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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Schools Superintendent Dean Koppelman is retiring at the end of the school year after serving the district for 18 years. He made the announcement official at a special school board meeting on October 26.
Koppelman told the board he has been a teacher, coach, Activities Director and Superintendent over the course of his 35 year career.
School board member Mike Callahan was on the board that hired Koppelman. He said Koppelman has helped move the school district forward with a positive attitude.
Koppelman’s final day as superintendent will be July 1st of 2016. Right now the search for a new superintendent for the Valley City School district is underway.
School board chairperson Joyce Braunagel said they hope to make a final selection by February of 2016.
The following is a letter of resignation from Dean Koppelman;
Dear Valley City Public School Board Members,
I believe our life in a sense is like a book, in that there are chapters to our life. Unlike a book, our life does not have a specific number of chapters. We don’t know how many chapters we have in our life, but I guess that’s something that makes life interesting and somewhat of a mystery at times.
I have reached a new chapter in my life and with that in mind it is with sadness and excitement I submit to you my letter of resignation/retirement as Superintendent of the Valley City Public School District, effective as of July 1, 2016. Until that time, I will continue to give my utmost effort as your Superintendent of Schools and I look forward to coming to work each and every day. We have some of the best students in the state of North Dakota here in Valley City and I owe it to them to do everything I can in my last year to help make a positive difference in their lives.
I have had a very enjoyable and memorable career in education, with some of the best years having been spent here in Valley City. I will take many, many positive memories with me from the 18 years I will have served as Superintendent of Schools. Valley City is a great community in which to live and work and I cannot thank our community enough for the support that is given to our educational system, especially to our students.
Here in Valley City I have worked with many outstanding staff members (teachers, administrators, support staff, and central office staff). The most important working relationship for a Superintendent of Schools is with the School Board, as I believe the leadership and direction of the school district starts at that level. I cannot say thank you enough, to the School Board members of Valley City Public Schools that I have worked with in the past and those I work with today for providing me the opportunity to serve our school district. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Superintendent of Schools in one of the best school districts in North Dakota!
Being a Superintendent of Schools has been more than a job to me, it has been a sincere passion, as I have always enjoyed doing what I can to help make a difference in the lives of students and all of the staff who work in our schools. The most precious memories I will take with me is the contact I have had with thousands of young people in my career having served as a teacher, coach, Activities Director, Principal, and Superintendent. Young people bring so much joy to our lives. I don’t know what we would do without them!
I wish you, our students, our staff, our parents, and our community the very best in the future. There will always be a place in my heart for one of the best school districts and communities in the state of North Dakota!!
Go “Hi-Liners!”
Sincerely,
Dean Koppelman
Superintendent of Schools
Below school board members hug and shake hands with Dean Koppelman shortly after he made the announcement official.
- High School principal Kristi Brandt.