DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION - The principal of Fort Resolution's Deninu School is retiring at the end of the school year, and this time it's for certain.

Moh Odeen had also retired after the last school year, but returned when a new principal could not be found.

Moh Odeen

Odeen said he is "definitely" retiring this year, along with his wife, Bernice Odeen, who is the literacy coach at the school.

"It's really the hardest decision we've made," the principal said, noting he and his wife are going to miss the school, the students and the community.

A new principal - Dan Summers - has already been hired for Deninu School.

Summers will be coming to Fort Resolution from Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf.

Since 2006, he has been vice-principal of a 2,300-student middle school where he has been responsible for a section with 450 students and a staff of 40. Prior to that, he was a teacher in Grande Prairie, Alta.

The new principal's wife, Lucinda Summers, will also be coming to Deninu School as a teacher.

Odeen, who served for seven years as principal in Fort Resolution, has been noted for leading a remarkable transformation at Deninu School. For his efforts, he was named among the top 33 principals in Canada for 2008.

"I think we did make a difference," he said, adding he and his wife worked to create a positive learning environment and focused on literacy.

Odeen also said behavioural issues are now minimal at the school.

The 60-year-old said his decision to retire was influenced by some health issues he has faced over the past few years.

Bernice Odeen said she and her husband have established a firm base at the school and it is now up to others, including the Fort Resolution District Education Authority, to continue on with the work.

The Odeens plan to move to Guyana - Moh Odeen's home country in South America - where they hope to do volunteer work with poor children.

Curtis Brown, the superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council, said the Odeens will be missed at Deninu School

"They really turned the school into something to be proud of," Brown said.

Deninu School has nearly 110 students and a teaching staff of 12.