Superintendent Rhonda Turner officially announced her plans to retire on Monday evening after the Quitman ISD Board of Trustees met and accepted her retirement resignation letter. Her last day will be January 4th, 2023.
Turner stated that her decision did not come without a lot of consideration and prayer. "I have had ongoing conversations with the board for over a year about my retirement. These conversations occurred so that a transition to a new Superintendent would be as smooth as possible."
Turner, a 1985 Bulldog alumni, returned to her alma mater in 2007. She was named Superintendent in 2012. Turner stated that, "The opportunity to serve the last fifteen years with a district that I love 'to the moon and back' has been one of my greatest joys. I am forever a Bulldog, and I will forever cheer for this district, our students, our faculty, and our staff. I am leaving a district that has a healthy fund balance, upgraded facilities, is an A rated district, and has some of the most committed and dedicated staff in the state of Texas. To say I am proud of this district would be a complete understatement. THIS DISTRICT IS THE BEST!"
In her retirement email to QISD, Turner thanked Quitman's Board of Trustees, describing them as "one of the most supportive Board of Trustees in the state." She encouraged the staff to thank them for their support. Turner also took the opportunity to encourage staff to "be the change" and to "keep the main thing the main thing." She expanded that "Our main 'thing' is to educate our students, and our focus must always be there."
Turner plans to enjoy her retirement by spending time with her husband, Scott, who retired last year from QISD as the Technology Director. They plan to travel to "as many state and national parks as we can pull our camper to." The Turners also plans to spend lots of time with their grandkids and with her parents.
Turner ended her email to staff asking them to "please know that serving as your Superintendent has been my honor. God blessed me beyond measure when he brought my career and my passion together. The greatest mission field ever is public education."