The North Kitsap School District will be losing its longtime leader this June. Dr. Gene Medina gave official notice of his intent to resign Thursday night, ending months of hearsay and putting the NKSD in a position it hasn’t been in since the late ‘90s.

He’ll be leaving some big shoes to fill — like clown-sized shoes even.

Gene led the district through an era of unprecedented change — ushering in mandates like the Washington Assessment of Student Learning while ensuring schools throughout the North End received much-needed renovations and funding. In the years that pass and as memories of his many good deeds fade, he’ll remain linked to the opening of Kingston High School.

It was a grand achievement and although hundreds of people were involved in the process, Gene always seemed to be the one helping drive it forward to completion.

The road toward this success wasn’t always without its potholes, of course. Orange cones often dotted it rivaling those on State Route 305, but his vision always seemed to stay true.

And while some applauded his feats in this respect, others argued that he needed to take off the blinders and look around every now and again. Leadership is like that.

It isn’t a safe haven, but then it was never meant to be.

With the district’s clock starting to tick down to June, some school board members will undoubtedly be trying to find another Dr. Gene Medina. They can stop looking. He’s one of a kind.

As a result, the board for the first time in nearly a decade must decide what type of person they want to work with, what type of person they need in place to ensure the NKSD continues to prosper and grow.

It’ll be a daunting task, and one we wish them luck with.