Ryan Redetzke, principal at Henry Sibley High School, unexpectedly announced to staff, students and parents on Thursday that he is resigning, effective June 30.

He said he was resigning for "personal and professional reasons" and has "chosen to step down and pursue another opportunity."

Carrie Hilger, spokeswoman for the district, confirmed that Redetzke had accepted a job elsewhere.

In an email to parents on Thursday, he said "the decision does not come easily as I have enjoyed my time here. The staff and students truly make Sibley a special place."

"We have enjoyed having Mr. Redetzke as part of Sibley this year," Superintendent Nancy Allen-Mastro said in a statement. "We wish him the best as he moves forward in his career."

This was Redetzke's first year as principal at Henry Sibley. Previously, he served for two years as assistant principal at Faribault High School. Before that, he was an administrator in the Elkhorn Area School District and a Spanish and social studies teacher with St. Paul Public Schools.

The district is beginning the search for a new high school principal and wants to fill the position by the end of June. Having just surveyed parents, student and staff on what qualities they wanted in a principal last spring, Allen-Mastro and a search committee will use that information to select potential candidates, according to a district statement.