The superintendent of Greenwood Community Schools will retire Dec. 31, after 32 years in education and 23 years as an administrator.
Superintendent Kent DeKoninck, who has spent seven years at Greenwood schools, announced his retirement Tuesday night, and fought through tears to tell attendees of the Greenwood school board meeting the community made him feel at home.
“Probably being in Greenwood made me want to be home more,” DeKoninck said. “No place has made us feel more at home in 32 years of education. I can’t thank you enough. Thank you, and thank you to the community.”
After retiring, DeKoninck will move to the Fort Wayne area to be closer to his family.
Before taking on the top leadership position at Greenwood schools, DeKoninck was an associate superintendent at Avon schools, a human resources director and middle school principal at Perry Township schools and a middle school principal at Carmel-Clay schools. He was also the guidance director at Westfield schools, a guidance counselor at Culver schools and a teacher at Monroe-Gregg schools in Monrovia.
Board member Steve Moan showed his appreciation for DeKoninck’s leadership during the meeting.
“You have been a shining light in this district. I think I can do this emotionally knowing you’re still here, but knowing we’re dwindling our time with you will be hard,” board member Steve Moan said.
“I don’t look forward to going through the process (of hiring a superintendent) again because you will be nearly impossible to replace. Our hope is to find someone who will carry Greenwood on (their) shoulders like you can.”
