CAPE ELIZABETH — School Superintendent Alan Hawkins plans to retire at the end of the calendar year.

Hawkins, who has been superintendent for five years, said in a news release that he will announce his retirement at the School Board meeting tonight. Hawkins could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a letter that he planned to read to the board, Hawkins reflected on accomplishments in the district and said he especially cherished his experience in Cape Elizabeth.

“Though the decision is a difficult one for me, the time has come to retire from my current role as a superintendent,” Hawkins said in the letter. “It is done with great pride and humility at the opportunity of working collaboratively with so many in our community.”

Hawkins also wrote that he would be happy to stay on with the district in the role of a consultant through April 15, 2011, to help in the transition to a new superintendent and to work on the curriculum, instruction and assessment and the emergency plan.