Todd Cuddington, Superintendent of the Portage la Prairie School Division, announced he would not return to his role next year in a release last week.

School board chair Marie Hélène Hoggarth says everyone in the division will miss him.

"We are very thankful for Todd. He has been a great leader. He's been such a great advocate for our school division, staff, and students, especially."

Hogarth commended Cuddington for his transformative leadership, citing his numerous initiatives that propelled the division forward during his eight-year tenure as Superintendent.

"It was a shock to all of us. We wish he would stay. He will be missed. He's been just a godsend to our school division."

file photoTodd Cuddington.

The board chair says she learned lots from Cuddington.

"We hope he sticks around in the community because he has also been a great advocate for Portage. He's helped out a lot of organizations. We want to say 'thank you' on behalf of the trustees."

Looking to the future of the Superintendent role, Hoggarth notes that a Public Relations Administration Committee is meeting this week to determine the next steps needed to fill the postion.