Kirkland Adventist School Principal Doug White is retiring at the end of the school year. White will step down June 6 after leading the school for 20 years, teaching on and off there for 32 years.

“I just grew tired of the administrative side of things,” he said. “I feel I could be more effective as a teacher.”

Principal White, 54, will move to Spokane to resume his career in teaching at the Spokane Junior Academy, a K-10 Adventist school. He said it was time for a change and to be closer to his daughter and three grandchildren, who live in Spokane.

“I’ve got a lot of history here. It’s been kind of fun,” he said.

A number of his former students have returned to the school as teachers, board members and parents of students presently enrolled there.

Current students came up with the idea to hang a large banner along the fence along 108th Avenue once the news of his retirement spread around the school. Under and around the message, “We Love You, Mr. White,” students signed their names and left personal messages.

The Kirkland Seventh-day Adventist School (KSDA) is a private denominational elementary school with 134 students from around the area. The KSDA shares space with the Puget Sound Adventist Academy (PSAA), a high school with 97 students in grades 9 -12. KSDA School has been teaching students in Kirkland for over 60 years.

Contact Kendall Watson at kwatson@reporternewspapers.com.