Dvorak Calls it Quits After 10 Years With School District

The Natrona County School District’s superintendent has stepped down after 10 years of service.

Dr. Joel Dvorak has retired after five years as the school district's superintendent. Dvorak says he’ll miss the job.

"85 percent of our budget goes to people, and it's a very human experience," Dvorak said. "There are great people in this organization, many that I will have as friends for the rest of my life."

"It really is about people - both kids and adults are probably the thing I'm going to miss the most," Dvorak said.

Current associate superintendent of business services Steve Hopkins will take over for Dvorak on Monday. Dvorak says Hopkins will face some significant challenges.

"We have to be stewards of about $250 million to $300 million of taxpayer dollars with our construction piece, and that's a big piece," Dvorak said. "That and this challenge of, really, transforming our whole system around an academy framework is a journey that we'll be on for several years, and the next three to four years will be critical."

Hopkins was named the school district’s new superintendent back in January. Dvorak says he doesn't quite know what he'll do during his retirement.