SD34 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Godden announces retirement

ABBOTSFORD — Although he won’t be leaving until the end of the current 2022-23 school year, Abbotsford School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Godden announced his impending retirement Tuesday afternoon in a district-wide email sent to SD34 staff.

In a news release on the SD34 website, Dr. Godden fulfilled his pledge to retire following discussion he had with the Abbotsford Board of Education earlier in the school year.

Godden has worked in public education for 36 years, of which he has served as superintendent of schools/CEO for the past 12 years in Abbotsford. Appointed to the role in 2011 after serving in previous positions such as Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Godden’s innovative leadership has navigated the school district through exponential growth, the development of a progressive strategic plan and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for building equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students to feel welcome, included and valued has been a tremendous asset to the school district.

“We are very grateful for Kevin’s dedication to the Abbotsford School District,” says Korky Neufeld, chair for the Abbotsford Board of Education. “For over a decade, Kevin has worked to ensure that our school district moved forward in innovative ways to benefit all students and the greater Abbotsford community. As a Board, we knew this time would eventually come. Finding someone to take on this most important lead educator role will be a challenge, but it also creates an opportunity. His leadership will certainly be missed, and we wish him all the best in this exciting next chapter – a well-deserved retirement!”