New Provo School District Superintendent

Press Release

Provo City School District

May 2, 2012

The Provo School District Board of Education voted today to name Keith C. Rittel as its next superintendent. 

Rittel currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of Clover Park School District in Lakewood (near Tacoma), Washington, a school district with a similarly-sized student population as the Provo School District.  Effective July 1, 2012, Rittel will succeed interim superintendent Robert Gentry and former superintendent Randall Merrill, who retired in January of this year.

“It’s a great honor to have been chosen to lead Provo’s schools,” said Rittel. “The community and its resources are ideal for developing students.  Parent support is excellent.  I share the District’s vision for the future, and exceptional and diverse programs are in place.  I look forward to getting to know the people in the community and working to develop a long-term relationship with the fine educators and staff in the schools.”

“Keith Rittel is a proven and successful leader of schools,” said Kristine Manwaring, school board president.  “He has a deep understanding about effective teaching and learning.  As a school board, we are delighted to welcome him to our community.” 

Prior to his current position in Washington, Rittel served 4 years as principal at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington and 7 years as principal at Anacortes High School in Anacortes, Washington.  In 2004, he was honored as Washington State’s High School Principal of the Year.

Before serving as principal, Mr. Rittel was an assistant principal at East High School in Salt Lake City and a teacher at Woods Cross High School in Woods Cross, Utah.  While at Woods Cross, he was the school’s nominee for the Davis County School District’s Teacher Hall of Fame recognition. Starting his teaching career in 1984, he also was a teacher in Prince George and Victoria in the Province of British Columbia.

“This has been an extensive and inclusive three-month process in reaching this decision,” said Manwaring.  “Our superintendent selection committee included more than 25 members selected from among our educators and community.  The finalists went through four sets of interviews, including open houses.  Board members conducted extensive interviews of references at the sites of the candidates.”

Manwaring noted that student achievement is Rittel’s first priority.  “He has led notable growth in student achievement in each of his leadership positions.  Teachers and administrators regard him as a highly-effective leader with strong instructional knowledge.”

Rittel received a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he trained as a professional trombonist.  While working as an educator in Utah and completing a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Utah, he performed frequently with the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  He has children and grandchildren in Utah.  He is also currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Seattle Pacific University.