JAMESTOWN – Dr. Bret Apthorpe announced during Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting that he will retire as the Superintendent of Jamestown Public Schools at the conclusion of the school year, effective June 30, 2020.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement today from the Jamestown Public Schools” Dr. Apthorpe said during the meeting.
Dr. Apthorpe said while his life focus has been to educate students, he has spent many hours away from his family over his past three decades in education.
JPS President Paul Abbott said Dr. Apthorpe came to the district “a few weeks ago” and formally announced his intention to retire at the end of the school year.
“By giving us some advanced notice, we were able to do some of the preliminary work so the Board can begin its search almost immediately,” said Abbott.
Abbott also stated that district business will persevere as normal, including continued work on the 2020-2021 school budget.
Abbott says the Board of Education fully supports Dr. Apthorpe’s decision to step down.
“Dr. Apthorpe has made many improvements (to the district) during his tenure and has also guided us through some challenging events,” explained Abbott.
Dr. Apthorpe became JPS’ Superintendent in September 2017 and launched several initiatives, including the development of the new Success Academy, located at the former Rodgers Elementary School, which hosts middle and high school students who may need extra help academically, socially or emotionally.
Prior to coming to Jamestown, Dr. Apthorpe was the Superintendent of schools for the Frontier Central School District in Hamburg, from 2014 to 2017, and the Assistant Superintendent of curriculum & instruction at Fairport Central School District in Fairport, from 2007 to 2014.
Dr. Apthorpe began his career at Southwestern Central Schools a social studies teacher. He later taught high school social studies in the Honeoye Fall-Lima Central School District.
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