May 8, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 3 min read

Courtesy of Canon-McMillan School District

Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels has announced his retirement.

Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels speaks at the opening of the Canon-McMillan Middle School in January 2023. Daniels is retiring at the end of the school year.

Longtime Canon-McMillan School District Superintendent Michael Daniels has announced that he will retire from the district’s top post at the end of the school year.

The Canon-McMillan board of directors accepted Daniels’ resignation, effective June 30, at its April 25 school board meeting.

“It has been an incredible journey leading Canon-McMillan through various challenges and successes over the years,” Daniels said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such a dynamic and vibrant community. The relationships I have forged with students, families, colleagues and community members are invaluable and I will cherish them forever.”

Daniels has served at Canon-Mac for 28 years, after beginning his career there in 1995 as a school psychologist. He later was appointed as director of special education, then served as acting superintendent before he was named superintendent in 2012.

Canon-McMillan School Board President Liz Gump commended Daniels’ leadership.

“Michael’s dedication, leadership and positive impact on the Canon McMillan School District has truly been admirable. I’ve always respected and appreciated the way he has prioritized the well-being and success of all of our students. He will be greatly missed and his legacy will continue to inspire us all,” said Gump.

A Washington County native, Daniels graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and California University of Pennsylvania. He worked for Intermediate Unit 1 and Washington School District before joining Canon-McMillan.

During his nearly 13 years at the helm of Canon-McMillan schools, Daniels has overseen a number of important changes in the district, including a 10-year facilities plan launched in 2014 that has resulted in the construction of new school buildings, renovation at the high school, and expansion and renovation at Canon-McMillan Stadium.

“I am most proud of the rollout of a conceptual facilities plan during the spring of 2014. The primary objective of that was to build capacity to accommodate our increasing enrollment and to provide full-day kindergarten programming in Canon-McMillan,” said Daniels, noting that when the new Wylandville Elementary School opens during the 2026-27 school year, full-day kindergarten will become a reality.

The new Muse Elementary School opened in 2017, followed by expansion at Canon-McMillan High School. At the same time, the stadium underwent expansion and renovation. In January 2023, the state-of-the-art Canon-McMillan Middle School opened.

Construction of the new Wylandville Elementary School is the final project in the plan.

Daniels’ work was always about the children, no matter what position he served in.

Daniels said his goal was to “expand educational opportunities while fostering a safe and supportive learning environment and promoting student achievement.”

Now, he said, is the right time to “pass the torch” to a new leader.

Daniels recalled watching a recent television interview with Pittsburgh Steelers play-by-play announcer Bill Hillgrove, who retired in February after three decades on the job, in which the voice of the Steelers said about retirement, “You just know when it’s time.”

“Now that we’ve reached the successful end of my 10-year plan, I believe it’s time for a new leader to develop the next 10-year plan, a leader who will see it through and experience the success of doing so,” said Daniels. “It is a true blessing and I take great pride in parting on great terms with everyone.”

The search for the district’s next superintendent is underway.