Indian River School District Superintendent announces retirement

Steele (left) and Owens

SELBYVILLE, Del. – Indian River School District Superintendent Mark Steele has announced his retirement from the district, effective June 30th.

Steele has been a teacher and administrator in the Indian River School District since 1981. He began his career as a math and physics teacher at Indian River High School before transitioning to the school’s assistant principal from 1991 to 1999, and principal from 1999 to 2013. He became the district’s assistant superintendent in 2013 and was promoted to superintendent in January 2017.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Indian River School District for the past 39 years,” Steele said. “Retirement was a very difficult decision, but it’s the right one for my family and me. I have been extremely fortunate to work with so many gifted staff members, each of whom has always had the best interest of our students at heart.”

At its regular meeting on June 22nd, the Indian River Board of Education appointed Dr. Jack “Jay” Owens as the new district superintendent, beginning on July 1st. Dr. Owens has been an Indian River School District educator for more than 20 years, and has served as the district’s superintendent since July 2018. Officials say he will be the district’s seventh superintendent since the formation of the school district in 1969.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to lead one of the finest school districts in the State of Delaware,” Dr. Owens said. “The district has had many great accomplishments in recent years and I look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence. It’s humbling to be chosen to follow in the footsteps of so many great IRSD superintendents and I thank the Board of Education for this tremendous opportunity. I also want to thank Mark Steele for his many years of dedicated service and leadership to the Indian River School District. Mr. Steele guided the district through many challenges during the past three and half years and he did so with conviction, enthusiasm and optimism. He is the epitome of a leader and I wish him the best in retirement.”