St. Vrain Valley Superintendent Don Haddad announced at Wednesday’s school board meeting that he will retire at the end of the school year after roughly 16 years leading the school district.

He became superintendent in 2009, according to the school district website, after serving as the principal of Niwot High School, executive director of secondary schools, an assistant superintendent and a deputy superintendent. He’s worked in the district for a total of 25 years and was named the National Superintendent of the Year in 2013.

He praised the “amazing work” of the district’s students, teachers, families, partners and leadership team.

“I’m very, very proud and very, very grateful,” he said. “I look forward to supporting St. Vrain just because it will always be near and dear to my heart.”

School board President Karen Ragland said Haddad has been an exemplary leader, guiding the district through the pandemic, the floods and a recession. When he started, she said, he inherited a fractured district deeply in debt. He introduced a technology plan, expanded focus programs, advanced career and technical education, and increased student access to opportunities, she said.

“Dr. Haddad has shown an unwavering commitment to our children,” she said. “

For (many) years, his exemplary leadership has driven remarkable student success and global achievement … time and time again, his critical decisions enabled the district to not just survive, but to flourish into what it is today.”