JAMESTOWN – The man who’s overseen the operation of the Jamestown Public Schools system will be retiring at the end of this school year. Jamestown School Superintendent Daniel “Deke” Kathman announced his plan to retire as of July 31 of this year through a media release and a news conference on Thursday. He also plans to formally announce his retirement to the full school board during its next meeting on Tuesday, January 8.
Kathman’s career as an educator has spanned nearly four decades, including 26 years at Jamestown, where he served as Love Elementary School principal for four years, Director of Elementary Education for 14 years and Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for five years. He became Jamestown School Superintendent at the start of the 2007-2008 school year.
In a statement, Kathman said that although he is not a Jamestown native, it has been his honor and privilege to have adopted the city as his hometown, nothing that he and his wife have raised four sons in the community, adding that all four are “Proud JHS graduates.”
Kathman also thanked the staff and school board for its assistance during his career, expressing a special respect for his central office team and for his predecessor and mentor, Ray Fashano.
Curren Board of Education President Joe DiMaio said that while Kathman has worn a number of hats while working in Jamestown, his number one priority has always been the well-being and education of the children in the district.
The Board of Education will soon begin the process of conducting a thorough and extensive search for Kathman’s replacement.
[…] to the board his intention to retire at the end of this school year. The superintendent first announced in a media release and press conference last week that he was stepping […]