KCSD school board recognizes retiring superintendent
June 22, 2026 / Klamath County School District Superintendent Glen Szymoniak was recognized last week during the June school board meeting, capping eight years of leadership marked by financial stability, expanded student opportunities, major facility improvements and recent gains in student achievement.
Szymoniak will retire June 30 after more than 40 years in education, including 18 years as a superintendent. Incoming Superintendent Melissa Cole, a longtime educator with more than 25 years of experience -- including district leadership roles, literacy initiatives and national work with AVID Center -- will take over July 1.
Retired educator and former longtime board member Jill O'Donnell credited Szymoniak with keeping the district on strong financial footing while continuing to support programs and staffing through periods of statewide budget pressure.
"He's leaving the district in the best financial status I have seen in my time in Klamath County," said O'Donnell, who spent more than 30 years as a kindergarten teacher before serving on the board from 2007 to 2025.
That stability has helped KCSD avoid the kinds of reductions seen in other districts. O'Donnell pointed to long-term fiscal planning — including reserve development and attention to ending fund balance — as key factors in the district's financial position.
"Ending fund balance has been a priority, and the district's in good shape," she said. "We're keeping all our staff and our programs."
O'Donnell also noted that Szymoniak's careful stewardship of federal ESSER funding during the pandemic helped the district complete major facility improvements across the region. Those projects included new gymnasiums at Bonanza and Chiloquin, turf fields at Mazama and Chiloquin, the Henley Construction Trades Center and the Crater Lake Learning Center.
She said those investments, along with academic initiatives across the district, have contributed to recent gains in student outcomes, including graduation rates. KCSD's four-year overall on-time graduation rate reached 86.7% in 2025, an all-time high for the district.
Szymoniak, who announced his retirement in January, said the district's growth reflects collective effort across schools, staff and the community.
"Our progress — including strong financial health, expanded student opportunities, improved facilities and continued academic improvements — is the direct result of a shared commitment to students," he said. "Serving Klamath County School District over the past eight years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside dedicated board members, staff, community partners and leaders who share a commitment to educational excellence and the wellbeing of our students. Together, we navigated extraordinary challenges, including the pandemic, while continuing to move the district forward."
Under Szymoniak's tenure, the district formed partnerships with local businesses, Sky Lakes Medical Center and others to provide students with direct on-the-job training opportunities.
Board member John Rademacher highlighted Szymoniak's role in expanding programs designed to keep students connected to school, including Career Technical Education programs as well as athletics and student activities.
Board members also recognized Szymoniak for his long-term advocacy for federal Secure Rural Schools funding, noting his work with state and federal lawmakers to preserve a critical revenue source for rural districts. SRS funding has helped KCSD support staffing, maintain programs in smaller schools and offset operational costs tied to serving geographically large, rural attendance areas.
Rademacher presented Szymoniak with a blanket in the colors of Crater Lake as a farewell gift and a reminder of Southern Oregon.
"Glen, I just wanted to make sure you know how much we appreciate what you have done for Klamath County during the past eight years," Rademacher said. "Thank you."
