Jerry Jensen retiring from Siskin Children's Institute

photo Jerry Jensen, president and CEO of Siskin Children's Institute, is retiring.

The chairman of the Siskin Children's Institute said a search will begin immediately for a new president and CEO after Jerry Jensen announced his upcoming retirement.

"Jerry has truly made his mark in the annals of Siskin Children's Institute's history," F. Scott LeRoy said Wednesday. "He is a true visionary, and we wish him and his family all the best as he begins this new chapter in his life."

Jensen, 62, has headed the nonprofit since December 2005. His retirement will be effective at the end of the year.

Since he took over the institute, Siskin has grown from a preschool that served 117 children into a facility that serves more than 1,500 children and families in this region, according to a news release.

Jensen said he and his wife, Patty, plan to return to Kansas City "to be near family."

"We have three grandchildren and aging parents there, and our families need us," he said in the news release.

Under Jensen's leadership, Siskin Children's Institute opened a second Early Learning Center on Gunbarrel Road. This facility, along with the long-established downtown Chattanooga campus on Carter Street, served 354 children last year, the news release stated.

In 2009, Jensen oversaw the establishment of a research department, the Center for Child and Family Research. Researchers and interns conduct studies that develop early childhood education approaches that improve the quality of life of children with special needs and their families, according to the Siskin release.

"Results of the studies coming out of the research department are shared with professionals all over the world," Jensen said. "The research center has established the Institute as a thought leader in the field."

Jensen also partnered with Children's Hospital at Erlanger to open the Center for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics in July 2009. Since then, more than 2,000 children have received specialized health care services, according to the news release.

"Siskin Children's Institute is really making a difference in children's lives," Jensen said. "I really am most proud of the quality of volunteers and staff who serve the organization shoulder to shoulder. We are blessed with an exceptional group of community leaders who serve on our board, committees and other volunteer groups. These committed individuals are a guiding force for the organization, and I thank them for their input and support during my time at the Institute."

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