Randy Boroff began his career in the education system as a coach and health teacher in Scotch Plains, New Jersey in 1973. He would go on to fulfill various administrational positions in New Jersey, New York and Ohio, gaining knowledge as an assistant principal, principal and superintendent and adding new “chapters” to his life along the way. After obtaining over thirty-seven years of educational and administrative experience, Boroff accepted the position of superintendent of the Revere Local School District in 2009. Now, after over five years of service at Revere and a total of forty-two years in education, Boroff is planning to transition into yet another, slightly different chapter of his life: retirement.

After discussing his intentions with the Revere Board of Education for several years, Boroff chose to retire at the end of 2014. Three-year Board member Dana Appel has worked alongside Boroff for the entire duration of her position on the Board. She explained how the Board was first notified of Boroff’s decision.

“We were aware that he was likely to retire at the end of his contract, due to the changes in retirement rules and benefits in the State Teacher’s Retirement System (STRS) that go into effect in June. This summer, Boroff indicated that he was considering retiring six months early, at the end of the calendar year. The Board asked him to make his final decision by October 1. He notified us on that date that he had in fact made the difficult decision to retire,” Appel said.

Along with changes in both the STRS and education in general, Boroff voiced some of the personal motivations behind his choice, including his hope to spend more time with his family.

“It has been forty-two years, [which] is a long time. My family is all here in Cleveland: my kids [and] my grandchildren are here in Cleveland. There are a lot of things that I would like to [be able to] do with them. It is a time issue. A superintendent puts in a lot of time [including] nights and weekends. My grandchildren are getting to the age where they are participating in events and activities at their [schools], so I would love to spend my evenings, afternoons and weekends watching them,” Boroff said.

As superintendent, Boroff’s responsibilities over the years included overseeing school safety, student behavior and development, and college and career preparation while maintaining his involvement within the community. Although the job was “intense and stressful” at some points, Boroff noted, it was not without its rewards.

“Every year when I stand on that stage [at graduation] and give out the diplomas to graduates, or when I welcome kindergarteners to school for the first day… those are the things that are satisfying,” Boroff said.

Boroff also reflected on the experiences he had with the district.

“We accomplished some really good things. We passed two levies. We had a state championship soccer team. We have seen a lot of our kids get in to really good colleges and receive great scholarships. We have started to renovate our facilities and have seen a new stadium be built. There are a lot of great things that I have been able to be a part of that have added to my overall professional experience,” Boroff said.

Board president Claudia Hower spoke of the district’s achievements under Boroff.

“The district has moved forward during [Boroff’s] tenure as superintendent. Academically, the school district has consistently received ratings of excellent with distinction and the district report has improved. Our buildings are more energy efficient….An optional all-day kindergarten was instituted and the enrollment has increased each year. Our safety plans are updated and safety training is occurring with staff. Collaborating with Bath and Richfield governments, the district hired a Student Resource Officer to improve the safety in our schools. The district is now wireless and chrome books and iPads have been purchased for our schools,” Hower said.

Boroff has been very proud to have the opportunity to work with and represent the students, staff and community that comprise the Revere district.

“The students here in Revere are the most respectful, nice kids that I have ever worked with in any district that I’ve been in. I am so impressed with their enthusiasm for learning, their willingness to take care of one another and the fact that they support each other throughout the district… [Also,] you can’t have the academic excellence that we have without phenomenal teachers, leaders, principals, support staff, bus drivers, food service people and all of the adults that contribute to the education of our students. The parents are supportive; they send their children to school ready to learn, to take responsibility and be accountable . . . you put those three things together and you have the quality school district that we see,” Boroff said.

Boroff’s choice to retire prior to the completion of the 2014-2015 school year prompted a search for both a temporary and a permanent successor. Assisted by the search firm Finding Leaders, Board president Claudia Hower, vice president George Seifert and Board members Appel, Tom Kelley and Sabitsch chose Joseph Madak to be the district’s interim superintendent on November 25, 2014. Madak will assume his position the day after Boroff’s retirement takes effect on January 1, 2015. The Board will continue to work with Finding Leaders to select a permanent superintendent, whom they plan to hire at their meeting in February 2015.

Boroff plans to transition into his retirement by completing the school year as the interim principal of Gross Schechter Day School in Beachwood, Ohio, beginning January 5, 2015. After his contract there is completed, Boroff may decide to accept other consulting opportunities. Once he does retire, Boroff plans to travel, focus on maintaining his personal health and spend more time with his family.