FRANKFORT, Ind. – Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Joel McKinney announced his retirement at the Tuesday, January 11th school board meeting held at the CSF Administrative building. His planned retirement date is June 30, 2022, with the last day in the office Friday, June 24, 2022. McKinney has served CSF the past 10-years with eight of those years as assistant superintendent and two as superintendent.
“My wife made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” said McKinney, who took over as superintendent on January 12, 2021, after serving as interim after Don DeWeese retired in October 2020.
“My wife of 35-years this summer is retiring in April. We’ve known that and we have been preparing for her retirement and excited about that and knowing that I still had time on this contract and loved what I was doing.”
“And, one day she said, ‘why don’t you go with me?’ We have been meeting with our financial guy and he said, ‘it’s up too you.’ So we looked at it and I said, ‘I’ll go with you.’ So that was the offer I couldn’t refuse and if she wants to hang around me more than what we do right now, that is a pretty good sign – I think – after 35-years of marriage.”
McKinney shared what his retirement plans consist of at this time after 39-years of being an educator.
“Our grandkids are getting bigger, the numbers tend to be growing as well – we have three, grown children who all live close by and ‘how blessed are we to have that?’”
“So, that gives us a chance to spend more time with our grandchildren. We’ll travel a little bit, but we don’t plan to move away from Indiana – we love our home and it is close by, so I plan to keep an eye on all of the great things happening here in Frankfort.”
“I will forever, proudly be a Hot Dog.”
When asked how he would respond if the board should ask what qualities the next superintendent of CSF should have, McKinney talked about leadership.
“I believe in the “3 C’s” of leadership regardless of the organization and they are character, competence, and compassion. And, I think that’s the trend the Community Schools of Frankfort has been on – Don DeWeese set the tone for competence in a person with a strong character who can do the job well, but was compassionate. This is a people business – it’s about kids, it’s about helping them grow. I kind of lean on those “3 C’s” when I look for a good leader.”
CSF School Board President Sandy Miller said the Board will meet in executive session on Tuesday, January 18th to begin discussing next steps in a superintendent search.
“It is with mixed emotions that the Board accepts Joel’s letter of retirement,” said Miller. “We are so excited for him as he starts this next chapter of his life. However, his presence and leadership will be truly missed. Joel has been a strong leader as we have navigated trying times this past year and a half. He has not only been a champion for our students, but has always had the best interest of our staff and community at heart. They always say you should leave a place better than you found it. Joel leaves The Community Schools of Frankfort in better shape than he found us. For that, and much more, we say thank you. We wish Joel the very best in his retirement.”
RadioMom will update this story as additional information comes available.
Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Joel McKinney announced he will retire at the end of June 2022.
