Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Gary Weber, currently the district’s director of administrative support services, will take over as superintendent on March 2 in the light of board action Monday night.

In the dozen years prior to Amy Stewart assuming the superintendency of the Warren County School District in July 2016, the district had seven superintendents, including a couple interims.

Since then, the district has had one leader in the last seven-and-a-half years.

That tenure, which saw her lead the district through an unprecedented pandemic, ends this week.

Her last school board meeting was Monday night and the board formally recognized her service, naming the board room in her honor.

“This career has been one that sought me out,” she said. “It was not one I set out to do.”

Stewart joined the district in 1991 and taught elementary at Pittsfield, Beaty and Sugar Grove for nine years, followed by two years of integrating technology throughout the district. She then joined the central office where she has worked in technology, curriculum and instruction, support services, human resources and other short-term assignments.

She was appointed executive director in March 2015 and took on responsibilities including staff evaluation, policy development and implementation.

“Serving in this role is something that was an honor,” Stewart said. “It has been an honor to serve this school district.”

She acknowledged that this last week is “bittersweet.

“It really has been a wonderful ride,” she said. “It really is time for a new chapter for this school district.”

She will turn over the chair to her lead assistant, Gary Weber, whose five-year contract was approved Monday.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be handing off the baton to Gary,” Stewart said. “This is a unique beast that we operate here. A very unique situation.

“We are ready. We’ve done the very best we can here.”