White River School District Superintendent Tom Lockyer and Enumclaw School District Human Resources Director Kathy Lockyer have announced their retirements.

The husband-wife school couple have been a fixture on both sides of the White River for the past seven years.

Tom Lockyer made his announcement during his State of the District address Nov. 28 at White River High School.

He plans to close out his seventh year July 1 and turn over the reins of the district to current Deputy Superintendent Janel Keating.

“The timing is right,” he told the crowd.

Both Lockyers have spent close to 40 years in education. They began their careers as teachers in California, then worked at schools in Germany with the Department of Defense before both took superintendent positions in Montana. Tom Lockyer was tabbed to lead the White River School District seven years ago, while Kathy was hired as Enumclaw’s human resources leader a year later. She plans to retire at the end of July.

White River School Board President Denise Vogel thanked Tom Lockyer for his leadership and the smooth transition she anticipates as Keating takes over.

“We knew Mr. Lockyer would want to retire,” said Vogel, who joined the board at the same time Lockyer arrived at the district. “To us it’s always about the kids and what’s best for them. We’re excited the leadership will continue under Ms. Keating.”

District leadership and the board will spend the next months looking at how to best fill Keating’s position as it makes the transition and works through continued budget reductions from the state.

Keating began her career with the White River School District as principal at Mountain Meadow Elementary School, where she spent eight years before being tapped for the deputy superintendent position six years ago.