“Our business is children” has always been the mantra for Eaton School District RE-2. Perhaps there’s no other person in the district who embodies this spirit better thanSuperintendent Jay Tapia. Tapia plans to retire in his role as superintendent and looks forward to change. Tapia said, “I’m excited, a little nervous. I’m not done working, so I am going reinvent myself and go into something different. It’s also bittersweet. I’ve enjoyed working with kids and the whole process from kindergarten to 12th grade, but I’m also excited about what’s out there.”
Tapia has worked in education for nearly 28 and a half years. Prior to his tenure as superintendent, he served as Eaton High School (EHS) principal for three years.
In July of 2020, Tapia began his work as superintendent in the midst of a pandemic. Despite challenges and roadblocks, improvements and development of the school district continued.
Previous to the pandemic, during the 2018-19 school year, plans were made to pass bonds in order to finalize a plan to build a new high school, move Eaton Middle to the existing high school, move Eaton Elementary to the existing middle school building, and complete projects at Benjamin Eaton and Galeton Elementary Schools to increase safety.
In 2019-20, these plans were finalized and approved to be completed and, in 2021/22, construction was completed for the new high school and the renovated old high school (now the middle school), and the old Eaton Elementary school was demolished.
Following the conclusion of the pandemic, Tapia and the district improved facilities and built a well-rounded staff in all district buildings. Tapia commended the district for its great work and support to maintain and continue to build a hopeful future. The district is in a great position to handle future growth.
Tapia said, “We upgraded all the buildings we had [and] we have done a good job looking at staff salaries to make sure we are competitive with the other people around us so we can attract strong staff. So, can it get better? Sure, but we are not a training ground anymore so to speak. We have a great support system and great students to make it exciting for anyone to lead the district.”
The process for a new superintendent has already commenced. On Aug. 28, a statement from the district board and Tapia said, “The board has recently obtained the services of Dr. Randy Zila from McPherson and Jacobson to help run the search for the new superintendent of Eaton School District starting in the 2025 school year. If you can’t attend there will also be a survey coming out next week that will allow you to provide feedback and suggestions as well. We are also trying to set up another in person opportunity with Dr. Zila if possible.”
The community is encouraged to assist in the search and selection process for a new superintendent.
The superintendent position will open in December for six weeks and six candidates will be chosen to begin interviews in March. By April a candidate will be chosen and will begin their work Jul. of the 2025/26 school year.
Tapia is proud of the work he and his team have done in the last four years.
Tapia said, “We have really done some good things, and set it up so kids can be successful through gaining college credits or the work-based learning. The connection is what makes Eaton so unique and it’s really important to just get to know the kids.” Tapia hopes he’s left the district a better place than when he arrived.
Tapia’s retirement comes at unique time for a district that continues to grow.
EHS Principal Jessica Grable said, “I’m super excited for someone to come in and help us grow, and when we graduate kids they are ready to be successful. I’m super excited for [Tapia], but it’s totally bittersweet. I know him and he’s the one who gave me a job and believed in me enough.”
Grable admired the work that Tapia has done for the district. She said, “I think that he will miss kids and parts of the job that he will miss, I’m super thankful for the hiring of Dr. Zila, and that Tapia notified the district with enough time to spend time to search and find someone. It speaks to his heart for the district.”
Uncertainty now falls on the district for a temporary amount of time.
The work of the district prior to Tapia’s tenure as superintendent and during has set up the district well for the near future. Despite unpredictability during the early stages of Tapia’s tenure, Tapia and the district board have progressed the district forward and have left a lasting impact on the community of Eaton.
Tapia looks forward to his future away from education. He said, “The future is wide open. I still have work to do here, and I can start thinking about that after spring break. I’m going to shift away from education. When you grow is when you put yourself in situations to grow and learn, so I’m going to challenge myself.”
