(Horicon) Horicon School District’s superintendent is retiring. The school board accepted Rich Appel’s retirement letter this week. His last day is July 1st. Appel has spent 37 years in education working in Tipton, Iowa for seven years; then as principal at Chilton for 21 years; and the last nine years in Horicon as superintendent. He says his time in Horicon has been (quote) “fantastic.”
“Love this community…love this school district staff…the kids are just so kind here and really made a connection with myself, and my wife and I just appreciated all of that,” says Appel. “Been here for the nine years…I just can’t say enough about what we have been able to do together.”
Several of the accomplishments Appel highlights include the passage of a $26.5-million-dollar referendum in 2018, being named a top 100 workplace, and the elementary school receiving a national Blue Ribbon Award this year which recognizes academic performance.
The superintendent says all this could not have been achieved without the hard-working staff of the Horicon School District.
“I appreciate them every single day and I think they know that…they feel that…I feel it from them,” says Appel. “My message back to them is keep doing the great things that you do…what they do matters…and the connections they have with kids and parents matters. I’m just so appreciative of having these nine years to work with them.”
Appel says he and his wife will remain in the area and will continue to support the Horicon community.
