Chinook’s Edge superintendent Jim Gibbons has announced he will retire in June 2010, after working as an educator for 34 years in Central Alberta.

“It was a very tough decision because there are so many more things that I would like to do, but I think I’m leaving the school division in a good place to go onward and upward,” Gibbons said.

His career started in Mountain View County as a teacher in Sundre. He eventually served as a vice-principal at Sundre Junior High School and as a principal at both Cremona School and Sundre High School, with a stint as an assistant superintendent between those positions.

Mountain View County amalgamated with Red Deer County to form Chinook’s Edge School Division in the mid-1990s and Gibbons eventually became deputy and acting superintendent before starting his tenure as superintendent close to a decade ago.

“I have felt quite blessed to have been in a profession where you can make a difference in the world because you can make a difference in the lives of our young leaders,” he said.

Gibbons said he’ll miss the wonderful relationships he has established with teachers and senior leadership and the interaction with students.

He is pleased by the partnerships he has had a hand in creating, including the Community Learning Campus, Fox Run and Mother Theresa schools sharing the same space in Sylvan Lake and Carstairs School and library sharing a venue.

Gibbons, 59, lives with his wife Judy in a beautiful place, southwest of Sundre, along the Red Deer River.

In his retirement, he plans to continue to play hockey and golf, as well as going fishing, riding his horses and farming.

He’ll also spend time with his two-year-old granddaughter.

He still hopes to keep active in education in some volunteer manner. Known for wanting to be involved in everything and willingness to volunteer his time for every project, his staff recently gave him a T-shirt that reads: “Just say no.”

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