Superintendent David Peterson said Monday he will retire from the Nampa School District on June 30.
Peterson took over in June 2014, after retiring with 36 years of education experience in Washington.
“(My wife) and I are looking forward to retiring, again, and the opportunity to spend more time with the grandkids, volunteer in the community, and be available to support our parents at this point in their lives,” he said.
When hired, Peterson became Nampa’s fourth superintendent in less than two years, taking over a district emerging from a $3 million shortfall.
“Superintendent Peterson’s leadership was essential to refocusing the district on teaching and learning following the financial crisis,” Nampa School Board chairman Mike Fuller said. “We have appreciated his leadership as we engaged the community to support an increased supplemental levy to fund these improvements for students.”
Fuller said he will call a special meeting to start the search for a new leader.
Communication director Allison Westfall also resigned this month after 10 years with the Nampa district. She joined the State Department of Education as director of communications.
“I am so honored to have served and proud of the work Team Nampa has accomplished,” Peterson said Monday. “We’ve made some significant progress during the past two and half years by focusing on getting better together.”
Under Peterson’s leadership, the district ramped up support for professional learning communities, initiated a six-year cycle to upgrade curriculum, launched an initiative to upgrade classroom technology and focused on parent and family choice. He opened a new blended-learning elementary charter school, Gem Prep, and the state’s first innovation school, Union High School. He supported the growth of the district’s arts charter school, Idaho Arts Charter.
In 2017-18, the district will launch a second innovation school for high school students, Treasure Valley Leadership Academy; and a new secondary charter school, Pathways in Education, serving at-risk students.
