Plymouth Schools Superintendent Dan Tyree has announced his retirement. After nine years as superintendent and 38 years with the school corporation in total, he told the school board Tuesday his last day will be June 30. “After my kidney transplant, I have really struggled, not to keep my kidney working like it was, but I just have some issues that really doesn’t allow me to give 100 percent,” he said. “And I’m not willing to go any longer with the inability to give 100 percent.”
However, he said there were other factors that led to his decision, “I will also say that the changes that we see, the craziness that we are dealt with, with the ISTEP or ILEARN or whatever they want to call it, are some of the things that have pushed me to this decision.”
Tyree added that he doesn’t particularly like his decision to retire, but it’s best for him and his family. “Usually, you ask a superintendent, ‘What’s driving you out?’ and they’ll say it’s the school board. But I would say, ‘What would keep you in?’ and I would say the school board because they believe in what’s best for our kids,” he said. “So thank you very much for the great nine years I’ve done this and the total of 38 years that I’ve put in at Plymouth.”
Among his accomplishments as superintendent, Tyree highlighted the creation of a mission statement and core values for the corporation, as well as the implementation of many of its goals.
Tyree says he plans to submit a formal retirement letter for the school board’s consideration at its next meeting. His retirement at the end of June will take effect the same day as that of Culver Schools Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell.
However, Tuesday’s Plymouth School Board meeting also had its lighthearted moments. Sixth graders from Riverside Intermediate School gave an interactive presentation on Ancient Greece that ended with Tyree battling Menominee Elementary School Principal Steven Boyer in a reenactment of the Trojan War. Ancient Greece is one of five ancient civilizations being studied by Riverside sixth graders.
