Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Retiring

In a letter to the district’s Board of Education on Friday, Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Michael Shibler said he will retire at the end of the calendar year.

He said he was considering retirement before the pandemic set in but decided to wait  to provide consistent leadership to the district during uncertain times. He said in his statement,

"I have never been more confident in the direction our district is moving and the leaders we have in place to make it happen. This makes me feel very comfortable with my decision to retire."

He also mentioned that so he is hopeful the 2021-22 school year will be reminiscent of a more normal routine. What will Shibler do with his free time? He stated,

"On a personal note, I’m looking forward to the flexibility retirement offers. In my role as Superintendent of Schools, the demands on my time are many. Retirement will allow me to pursue travel and other personal interests I’ve not been able to previously enjoy as well as to devote more time to my loved ones. I plan to remain a part of the Rockford community and I look forward to seeing the RPS continue to flourish under the guidance of the Board of Education and through the hard work and dedication of its employees. Rockford has been a huge part of my life and will always be a part of who I am."

Dr. Shibler is a two-time graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Education. He received his master’s degree in education administration from the college in 1971 and he received his Ph.D. in K-12 education administration in 1997. He has been the superintendent of Rockford Public Schools for 18 years. Shibler's retirement will go into effect on Dec 31, 2021. Rockford Public Schools consists of 16 schools and has nearly 8,000 students enrolled.