Retana accepts promotion to assistant superintendent

Search for new principal begins

After four years of leading El Dorado as principal, Cynthia Retana announced her promotion to assistant superintendent for SISD last Wednesday.

“I feel really honored and blessed to have a chance to have this opportunity,” Retana said.

“Like with anything else, when you start a chapter there is always a chapter you have to close. That is just how life works when it comes to new beginnings.”

— Cynthia Retana

Retana’s new responsibilities as assistant superintendent will include overseeing 15 different campuses in SISD, mainly middle schools and all of the K-8 schools. She is slated to begin her new position in early to

mid November.

“I want to see every school grow and experience the success that we have had here at El Dorado,” Retana said. “I want every campus to feel what it’s like.”

Despite her excitement about moving onto a larger role, Retana says she will miss the students she is leaving behind.

“I’ll definitely miss the kids and all the great things that come with a high school, like our morning rallies, the sports and homecoming,” Retana said.

Retana has worked in education for 23 years. She started out as a teacher, but has occupied several different administrative roles, eventually becoming the principal of Hernando Middle School, and then El Dorado.

“Coming to work every single day and meeting the goals I set, in the course of 23 years, led me to this promotion,” Retana said.

The district is actively searching for a new principal, with interviews taking place Nov. 1. If a candidate is chosen, the announcement will be made at the SISD board meeting scheduled for Nov. 7.