After 28 years of service at Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Superintendent Glenna Cannon celebrated her upcoming retirement with an open house on Tuesday evening.
“I remember the first day I was hired, and I was in heaven,” Cannon remembered. “I always call Pioneer a family, and they are a family to me. I’ve been the most blessed person in this whole world.”
Family and friends, board members, staff and members of the community gathered at Pioneer to bid farewell to Cannon, whose retirement will be effective on Dec. 31. Pioneer’s Board of Education accepted Cannon’s retirement resignation at their Nov. 17 board meeting.
“Glenna has been dedicated to helping young people develop saleable skills, positive attitude and constructive character,” said board president Howard Koons in a commendation to Cannon. “She has provided leadership to the administration team, faculty, classified staff and the board of education to enhance the quality of education at Pioneer. She has provided leadership and built a strong, student-focused educational team.”
Cannon first started at Pioneer as a counselor in September of 1987, and was named superintendent in March of 2006. Throughout her nine-year term as Pioneer’s superintendent Cannon negotiated three-long term faculty contracts through Interest Based Bargaining, completed a $32 million renovation project and passed a 1.7 mill replacement levy.
“The city of Shelby will continue to benefit from the work of Glenna Cannon through the future Pioneer Career and Technology Center graduates who will work with Shelby employers and live in the Shelby community,” said Shelby Mayor Marilyn John in a proclamation declaring Dec. 16 as Glenna Cannon Day. “You have represented Pioneer and Shelby well. Thank you for being my friend – that’s the best of all.”
Pioneer’s Director of Operations Greg Nickoli presented Cannon with two proclamations from Gov. John Kasich, the honorable Keith Faber, Larry Obhof and Dave Burke. Nickoli also presented Cannon with a Pioneer memory book and an aerial picture of the current Pioneer building.
Pioneer’s Director of Business Affairs Jim Grubbs also presented Cannon with a key to the facility as well as a Pioneer PRIDE book, and Cannon’s secretary Becki Kimmel gifted her with a quilt made of Pioneer t-shirts.
“On behalf of the staff at Pioneer, not only do we thank you for your professionalism, your dedication to Pioneer and the work that you’ve done on behalf of our students, but especially we thank you for your friendship,” said Nickoli. “You’ve been a wonderful friend, and a wonderful mentor to all of us, and we are so grateful for that.”
Cannon thanked the board of education, her staff, the school’s past superintendents, and her family for their support over the years – particularly past superintendent and her husband, Don Plotts.
“I look forward to spending more and more time with you,” she said to Plotts with a laugh. “You don’t have to ask me every morning if I’m going to come home tonight.”
“I will miss each and every one of you,” said Cannon, a catch in her voice. “You have been very special to me. This organization will run just fine without me, but I’ll tell you I’ll miss you every day. Thank you for trusting me, thank you for believing in me, and thank you for being my friends.”
“This organization will run just fine without me, but I’ll tell you I’ll miss you every day. Thank you for trusting me, thank you for believing in me, and thank you for being my friends,” said Glenna Cannon.
