George Thear, the superintendent of schools in the Panther Valley School District for the past 11 years, is stepping down. In a letter to the school board, he announced plans to retire effective June 30.

Thear, 57, said he was retiring due to “personal reasons.”

Until last night’s session, his salary for the present school year had not been established. After the directors accepted his resignation, they voted to pay him $35,000 for the 1980-81 school year, an increase of $5,000.

Thear was appointed superintendent in 1970 when the active superintendent, John Williams, resigned.