Jerry JensenJerry Jenson has announced he will retire at the end of this year as CEO of the Siskin Children's Institute.
He has headed the nonprofit since December 2005.
In that time, the institute has grown from a pre-school that served 117 children into a facility that a news release said serves more than 1,500 children and families in this region.
Last year, the Early Learning Centers downtown and on Gunbarrel Road served 354 children " in an inclusive education setting where children with special needs and those who are typically developing learn and grow side by side," a release said.
"Jerry has truly made his mark in the annuals of Siskin Children's Institute's history," F. Scott LeRoy, chairman of the board of directors, said. " We sincerely thank him for his years of tireless service to the organization. He is a true visionary, and we wish him and his family all the best as he begins his new chapter in his life."
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."