The superintendent of the Chandler Unified School District has announced that she will be retiring at the end of this school year. After 50 years of working in the district, Superintendent Camille Casteel feels this is the right time to retire, she said in a letter to families.
Casteel joined the district as an elementary school teacher in 1971 when the district only had six schools and about 5,000 students. It’s since grown to 47 schools and 44,000 students. A trailblazer in the district, Casteel became its first female principal in 1983 and first female superintendent in 1996.
"I have been deeply honored to have served as CUSD’s leader during the 25-year period of hyper growth and to have had the opportunity to champion the development of numerous educational choices for the families we serve," she said. "We have accomplished so much, and I will treasure so many wonderful memories."
Casteel's last day in the role is June 30, 2021. She is confident the governing board will find the right person to succeed her.
Casteel is the second superintendent in the Valley to announce their resignation this month. On Monday, the Paradise Valley Unified School District's governing board agreed to Superintendent Jesse Welsh's resignation.
