BRANDON — Neshobe Elementary School Principal Judi Pulsifer announced her retirement in a letter to the Otter Valley Unified Union School District board this month, and the school community will have a role in choosing her replacement. 
Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent Jeanne Collins was quick to praise Pulsifer for her years of service, while also laying out plans for a search committee and public meetings with candidates. 
“I believe in a public process with opportunity for students, faculty, staff and parents to give input,” Collins wrote. “To that end, I am assembling a Search Advisory Committee consisting of faculty and two parents to help review applications and select candidates to interview.” 
Pulsifer has been a leader at the Neshobe School for 18 years — 11 at the helm, and seven years as assistant principal under Principal John Dilts. 
“It has been a privilege to be part of the Neshobe School Community for my entire professional career,” Pulsifer wrote in her retirement letter. “I have been a reading teacher, a first-grade teacher, a primary multiage teacher, a primary special educator, an assistant principal, and a principal. I have had the privilege of being part of Brandon Graded School’s evolution to the present Neshobe Elementary School.” 
Pulsifer received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary and special education from the College of St. Joseph the Provider in Rutland. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from the Woodruff Institute at Castleton University. 
Collins said Pulsifer will leave a lasting, working impression, and would be missed. 
“I wish Judi all the best with my gratitude as she retires at the end of this school year,” Collins said. “Her leaving will be a loss to the school community. However, the systems and relationships she has built over the years will live on as her legacy. We are grateful to have experienced her compassion, expertise and leadership at Neshobe School.” 
As for Pulsifer, she said the tough decision to retire did not come easily. 
“Retirement has been a difficult decision to make as I genuinely love being a part of this school community and working to make a difference in our children’s lives, and having the opportunity to work with and learn from dedicated colleagues, our families, especially our students,” Pulsifer wrote. 
Why retire now? 
“To retire while I still love my job!” Pulsifer said. “And to have more flexibility and time with family and friends to fully enjoy life.” 
The Search Advisory Committee will meet online on Feb. 2 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. to review the resumes received with the hope of identifying two to four candidates for interviews. The first interviews will be held Feb. 9 and 11 at 6 p.m. on a Zoom meeting online. 
Collins said she has many parents interested in serving on the Search Advisory Committee, and she will finalize the committee’s membership soon. 
In addition to the advisory committee, all interested parents and guardians will be invited to meet each candidate and provide feedback. 
“As we begin the interview process for a new principal at Neshobe School, we would like your input as to what a new principal needs to know,” Collins told parents. 
A Thought Exchange was created for parents and guardians to submit that input at my.thoughtexchange. com/967452281. The Thought Exchange will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.