By JIMMY LAWTON

HEUVELTON – Superintendent Susan Todd will retire in June after serving as top administrator there for more than a decade.

Grades 7-12 principal Jesse Coburn will take her place.

In a letter dated Dec. 15, Todd announced she would retire June 30, 2017.

“It has been a pleasure working at Heuvelton and with the many different community members serving on the board of education over the last eleven and a half years. I look forward to our time together for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year, and I am very willing to help with transition of my duties to the new superintendent so that the district can continue to function smoothly after my departure,” she said.

“As a graduate of the Heuvelton CSD, I know that our school has historically been a shining star in the North Country so I am so very proud that the district’s reputation continues to be stellar and appears poised for continued growth,” she said. “I wish only ongoing success for the Board, the employees of the district and the community of Heuvelton.”

Todd says she is pleased with district’s choice of Coburn as her successor.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the Board's decision. The members of the Heuvelton Board of Education were very wise to consider an internal candidate who knows the district well and who has a track record of being an excellent administrator who cares about students. Mr. Coburn is very familiar with the Heuvelton Community and is well respected by parents, students and staff. I have no doubt he will be an amazing Superintendent,” Todd said.

Board of Education President Andrew Martin said Coburn and Todd will begin transition planning after the holidays and the district will begin searching for a new principal.

“He and Mrs. Todd will begin transition planning at the start of the New Year and the district will move swiftly to put in place a plan to search for a new 7-12 Principal for the 2017-2018 school year. Keeping in mind all the positive feedback the Board received regarding Mr. Coburn, it may be challenging to find a replacement for him but I have no doubt that someone very capable will want to be considered to work in our district. We have a lot to be proud of here,” Martin said.

According to Todd, Coburn has been serving as the 7-12 principal for three years at Heuvelton Central School. Prior to this, Coburn held positions as a Principal at the J.W. Leary Junior High School in Massena, and an Assistant Principal for Massena High School.

Coburn’s education background also includes teaching Earth Science at Heuvelton Central School from 2004-2007, Biology at the Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY and Grades 6-9 Science at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH.

Prior to entering the field of education Coburn worked for the Exxon Mobil Corporation as a Senior Geologist from 1998 to 2001.

Coburn holds degrees of Master of Education/Educational Leadership from St. Lawrence University, a Master of Arts from Syracuse University and he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.

Coburn presently lives in Canton, with his wife Sarah and his three children Etta, Vivian and Mamie.