Superintendent Nancy Allen-Mastro will retire from the West St. Paul- Mendota Heights-Eagan school district by the end of the school year. Allen-Mastro is set to retire after serving five years as superintendent to the district of more than 4,500 students.

"It has been deeply rewarding to spend the last five years of my career in District 197," Allen-Mastro said in a statement. "I am grateful to staff, the school board, district parents and our community for their passion and commitment to our students."

Allen-Mastro's retirement comes after more than 30 years as an educator. As superintendent, Allen-Mastro oversaw the opening of the district's early learning and family resource center, the passage of funding questions from security to technology and the execution of the district's plan for personalized, digital learning.

The district plans to have a new superintendent selected by June.

"I leave at a time when the district has tremendous momentum," Allen-Mastro said in a statement. "I look forward to working with teachers and staff to finish the year strong and I feel confident that district will be in a very positive position for the next superintendent."

Allen-Mastro is one of about four metro-area superintendents who will be stepping down in 2017.

District 197 will post information about the search for the new superintendent on its website.