The leader of Seymour Community School Corp. has decided to retire, again.

Superintendent Rob Hooker, 65, of North Vernon, will leave his post Dec. 31 after serving the Seymour school system for six years.

His first retirement came in 2010 after 10½ years as superintendent of Scott County Schools District 2. He then was hired in September 2012 as an interim superintendent for Seymour following the resignation of Teran Armstrong.

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The school board decided to keep Hooker permanently seven months later.

Hooker said he has enjoyed his time in Seymour, and is thankful for the support he has had from the school board, administrators, teachers, staff and the community.

“It’s the people I will miss the most,” he said. “People are very supportive of this school system and that shows.”

But after 40 years in education, including time as a teacher and administrator in Jennings County, he said it’s time for “new adventures.” He still hasn’t figured out what exactly those adventures may be, he added.

Hooker’s years with Seymour Schools have been positive and productive. During his tenure, the district has expanded programs, including special education and vocational offerings, upgraded academic and athletic facilities including the addition of the new Agriculture Science building and improved safety at school buildings.

“We’ve been able to do some pretty amazing things and we have a lot of momentum going for necessary future projects,” he said. “Our student enrollment is stable and we are keeping the tax rate stable.”

Much of that success is due to hiring the right people, he added.

“Things have been going well for us, and with the people we have in place that will continue,” he said.

Two years ago, the school board added two assistant superintendent positions so the transition to new leadership would be made easier when the time came. Those positions were filled by Lisa Ferguson and Brandon Harpe.

The board plans to hire an interim superintendent in January, giving officials time to go through the search and hiring process for a new superintendent in the spring of 2019, Hooker said.

The intent would be to have somebody in place by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, he added.