Smithtown Central School District Superintendent Edward Ehmann is retiring.
The announcement came Tuesday at the Board of Education meeting. Ehmann is set to retire June 30, 2012.
“I think you reach a point in your life where you feel it’s time to move on to new challenges … There are other things I’d like to do. I’ve always considered myself a teacher first and foremost and I’m really looking forward to help children that need help and hopefully do some more community service that I haven’t had a chance to do,” he said following the meeting.
Ehmann spent 37 years in the Smithtown Central School District, a career that began as a custodian.
Prior to becoming the superintendent five years ago, Ehmann taught in the district, was an assistant principal at both the middle school and high school levels, was the principal at High School West and served as the assistant superintendent of personnel.
With the announcement the board can now advertise the search for a new superintendent.
Ehmann said he would play no role in the search and that the board has its own expectations and requirements for who will replace him. He also said the board will hire a consultant that specializes in school administration searches to screen potential candidates for the position.
While the news of his retirement is new, Ehmann said now is not the time to reflect on his career.
“It’s a bit premature to talk about my career in a reflective mode because we have enough difficult work ahead of us this year,” he said.
