GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Monday evening, Kent Intermediate School District (ISD) Superintendent Ron Caniff today announced his intent to retire from Kent ISD at the end of the calendar year.
This will be Caniff's 36th and final year working in education.
“The privilege of serving as superintendent of Kent ISD has been a true honor and the highlight of my career,” Caniff said in his letter to the board. “The timing of my departure – the end of December – will allow us to get what will assuredly be a challenging start-up to the school year behind us and, hopefully, by the time I leave a sense of normal operations returns.”
Caniff was appointed Kent ISD superintendent in July 2015.
During his tenure, Kent ISD passed an enhancement millage to bring additional resources to its 20 member districts, assumed all operations and accountability for the ISD-wide special education center programs from the Grand Rapids Public Schools, expanded adult education opportunities throughout West Michigan and invested thoroughly in diversity, equity and inclusion leadership and training for Kent ISD staff and the superintendents of the Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association.
“Although I am very excited over the new chapter that awaits me in retirement, I will miss the daily interactions with the staff of Kent ISD. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for the talented and dedicated team members I’ve worked with at Kent ISD, both now and prior years,” Caniff said, adding that he will also miss working alongside the leaders of the school districts within Kent ISD.
