Grand Meadow Superintendent Jerry Reshetar is heading to retirement after 47 years. Herald file photo

After about six years as the Grand Meadow and Glenville-Emmons superintendent, Jerry Reshetar will retire.

“I’ve been in the education business for 47 years,” he said. “My wife says it’s time to come home.”

“My children and grandchildren have said the same,” he added. “They want more of my time.”

Reshetar, 68, will retire at the end of June. He went to Drake University and received a Specialists Degree in Education Administration.

He also has a bachelor’s degree in physical education, a master’s degree in recreation administration, and a master’s degree in international relations.

Reshetar started his career as a teacher but, looking for a new challenge, he went into administration and earned an administrative degree, and became a principal in St. Ansgar, Iowa. He eventually became a superintendent.

“I’ve learned much about working with people, be it students, parents, staff members or board members,” Reshetar said.

He noted a big part of being successful in administration is building trust between students, parents and administrators.

“Once you build that trust you can make a lot of things happen that are very positive,” he said.

Reshetar said one of the things he enjoyed about working in a small district was that while he is the superintendent, he has still been able to work with students.

Reshetar has been involved in several big projects over the years, especially in Grand Meadow, where he’s worked with an expansion project to bring a new physical education complex to Grand Meadow schools, along with several classrooms.

“We’ve been engaged in long range planning from the very beginning,” he said, in regards to when he started.

“That’s been a big part of what I’ve been a part of here for the last couple of years,” he added.

He hopes the next superintendent to take his place will “keep the district going in the direction that has been planned and continue to strive for excellence.”

The district has not made an official announcement of who will take over.

Reshetar isn’t slowing down with retirement, though, and plans to travel with his wife and then start another career.

“I still need to have a purpose to get up every day and something to look forward to, some sort of a challenge,” he said.

Reshetar also served in the U.S. Military, where he retired from the Army in May 2008 after 39 years of service. He enjoys sailing and racing his Corvette at a speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.