Whittier

Deputy Supt. Richard Graves has been named superintendent of the South Whittier School District by the board of education. The appointment of Graves to the district’s top administrative post was announced last week after board members accepted the resignation of Supt. Rudy Valdez.

Valdez, 60, said last month he wanted to step down at the end of the current school year to pursue other interests, including college teaching and candidacy for the Whittier Union High School District board of trustees next November. His resignation is effective June 30, 1985, when Graves will assume the job.

Graves, 47, has been an employee of the district for 23 years, beginning as a teacher and moving up to principal and then into district administration. He has served as director of curriculum, assistant superintendent and, two years ago, became deputy superintendent and director of classified personnel.

“I’ll bring continuity to the job,” Graves said. “I helped shape the current curriculum and I’ve been in the district long enough to build strong relations with both teachers and classified staff.”

Graves’ salary as superintendent won’t be decided by the board for several weeks. He currently makes $53,000 a year.

With his appointment, the school board eliminated the deputy superintendent position and created two additional posts for the 3,300-student district: director of curriculum and a director of personnel.