**Mike Pardun has served in education for 35 years, including 20 years as superintendent of the Denison Community School District.** Photos by Gordon Wolf

Denison Community School Superintendent Mike Pardun and the district’s business manager, Scott Larson, will be retiring from their positions on June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Their letters of retirement were presented to the Denison School Board this week.

The Schleswig School District shares the positions of superintendent and business manager with the Denison district.

Pardun is serving his 20th year as superintendent and is in his 35th year in education.

Prior to becoming the district’s superintendent, he was principal of Denison Elementary School for five years. Before that he served two years as principal at Battle Creek-Ida Grove (now OABCIG). He started his career in education as an elementary teacher and a coach for the Denison Community School District.

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**Scott Larson is marking his 36th year in education and in his 16th year as business manager for the Denison Community School District.**

Larson is in his 36th year in education, all but one served at the Denison district. His first year in education was as a K-12 physical education teacher for the Manning School District (now IKM-Manning).

He spent his first 19 years at the Denison district as a business teacher, teaching accounting and data processing and coaching.

Larson coached basketball, football, track, and softball.

He is in his 16th year as the district’s business manager.

He said he always had an interest in becoming the business manager.

“I knew I wanted to get into administration but didn’t desire to be a principal,” Larson said.

He said one reason he is retiring after this year is that he achieved the right number of years in education for IPERS benefits.

“Now I will figure out what’s next,” he said.

Larson did state in his letter to the board how he would spend part of his time.

“The fond memories of our time together will follow me into my retirement as a traveler and full-time grandparent,” he wrote.

Larson and his wife, Marcy, have children and grandchildren in Woodland Park, Colorado, and Manson.

He thanked everyone for the memories and opportunities he enjoyed as a teacher, coach, and business manager.

“I have spent most of my career with Denison CSD, and it’s been quite a journey,” he wrote. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming to work to educate students and solve real problems with this incredible team. Our team and our commitment to the students of this district have made this a wonderful and fulfilling career.

“We’ve been through our challenges, but I never questioned the integrity of our leaders or the careful thought process that drove each decision. I always knew that the health and success of our students were at the forefront. I have always been extremely proud to say that I work for the Denison CSD.”

In his letter to the board, Pardun said, “Serving as the superintendent of this esteemed district, and recently the Schleswig Community District we have been the honor of a lifetime. I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and passionate people I have ever encountered. Together, we have striven to create a learning environment that fosters academic excellence, nurtures personal growth, and cultivate opportunities for our youth.”

He added he has witnessed the transformative power of education and has seen students blossom into confident young minds, eager to make their mark on the world.

“I have observed teachers and staff go above and beyond to ignite curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning. I have experienced the unwavering support of our communities, committed to providing every child with the opportunity to succeed,” Pardun’s letter continued.

He said he is forever indebted to the students, families, administration, faculty, staff and communities of Denison, Kiron, Deloit, Buck Grove, Schleswig and Ricketts for making his career so fulfilling and meaningful.

“My personal mission in life has always been to lead a totally fulfilling life while fulfilling the lives of others,” Pardun’s letter says. “As Oprah Winfrey stated, ‘If you look at what you have in life, you will always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.’”

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