Bill Tucker, director of education for the Thames Valley District School Board has announced his retirement as of August 2013.

Tucker has been with the board, and the former London Board of Education, for 34 years.

In a statement Tucker said “I have truly enjoyed being the Director of Education for TVDSB over the last six years…however the time has come for me to spend more time with my family.”

During his six years as director education, Tucker was acclaimed for trying to improve relations between the board and local municipalities.

He also established an anti-bullying task force in 2010 that led to the idea for ‘The Pledge to End Bullying,’ which has received international attention.

“I am proud to say our board is doing an exemplary job of accommodating all students no matter their religious, economic or academic background,” he said.

Tucker was also involved in working with local child care providers during the introduction of full-day kindergarten.

Tucker began his career as an elementary school teacher in 1979.