Keota superintendent, principal to leave role

KEOTA — Keota Schools Superintendent and High School Principal Jim Henrich said he plans to step down from the position at the end of this school year to live closer to his family near Ankeny.

"It’s been nine years since I lived with them on a consistent basis,“ he said. ”I’ve been going back home on the weekends.“

The educator has spent 35 years in the field, but said he would change career paths once he left the Keota district.

"I’m going to work somewhere, I just don’t know where yet,“ he said. ”Not in education, I know that much, but I’ll do something … I think 35 years is plenty and (I’ll) see what else is out there for me.“

With his education career coming to an end, Henrich said he would miss the environment.

“There’s a spirit about Keota that is pretty special, so I’ve enjoyed my six years thoroughly,” he said. “It’s a good place, it’s a good district and I’ll always be an eagle.”

At an Oct. 27 special meeting, the school board heard a presentation from Grundmeyer Search Firm, and was scheduled to hire said firm for a Superintendent/principal candidate search at an Oct. 31 special meeting. Minutes for those meetings were not immediately available.

School board President Billie Kindred did not reply to a request for comments on further details of the candidate search.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com