A lot of new ideas came along during the 32 years Myron Melton has worked in education. Along with the rise of the Internet and computers was the effect those technologies would have on teaching.

“That increase of technology and access to information for teachers and for students is just drastically different than it was when I started,” he said.

Melton, who began working in the Lawrence school district in 1984, announced this week that he will retire at the end of the school year. He began his career as a physical education teacher at Sunset Hill Elementary School, working in various roles throughout the district before he began serving as West Middle School’s principal in 2003.

Melton said the pace at which education changed during his career, although difficult to keep up with, was ultimately rewarding.

Myron Melton

“The challenge and the reward is in keeping up with all the changes that are coming our way and trying to continue to offer our kids the most current and effective education we possibly can,” he said.

Melton said technology helped move along other changes, such as more personalized learning and education for students, which he thinks is a needed change in education. Another of the major changes were relationships among teachers, he said.

“What used to be more of an isolated experience for teachers in classrooms now is a very collaborative experience,” Melton said.

Melton, an Iowa City, Iowa, native, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Northeast Missouri State University and a master’s in educational policy and leadership from Kansas University.

After nine years as a physical education teacher at Sunset, Melton left the district in 1993 and became assistant principal of Tonganoxie Elementary School. He returned to Lawrence in 1995 as principal of the former Centennial Elementary School.

In 1999, during the planning and construction of Langston Hughes Elementary School, Melton was selected principal of the new school, which opened in 2000. He said that experience was one of the most memorable of his career.

“I had one year to really help plan and develop everything that went into opening Langston Hughes Elementary School,” he said. “That’s a rare opportunity for a principal to get to do that, to see that school start from the very beginnings and working its way through to that opening year.”

Since leaving Langston Hughes, Melton has spent the past 12 years in his current role as principal at West Middle School.

“Myron can be proud of the outstanding academic reputation that he has helped to build at West Middle School in collaboration with teachers, staff and school families,” said Lawrence schools Superintendent Rick Doll.

Melton said if he had to describe the environment at West in one word, it would be collaborative. And it’s that atmosphere, and the relationships that came of it, that Melton said he will miss most about working in education.

“I’ll miss the relationships that you develop with families, staff and students over this many years in being in one spot,” he said.

During his time with the district, Melton has also served as a mentor principal and a member of the Inclusion, Assessment and Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration committees.

“As one of our most veteran principals, we have come to rely on Myron’s leadership at the elementary and middle school levels, as well as at the district level through his service on various committees, including the Superintendent’s Advisory, District Equity Leadership and Negotiations Teams,” Doll said.

As Melton starts his last semester at West, he said he’s still feeling energetic and ready to make sure the school is left in good shape and ready for the next person to step in. Though he said he thinks retiring while he still really enjoys what he’s doing is the right move, it will still be hard.

“It’s mixed emotions,” he said. “I’ve been here for a number of years and I really have loved my time at West. Leaving the students, staff and parents who I’ve worked with for many, many years is going to be difficult.”

Melton’s wife, Lisa, who teaches fifth grade at Sunflower Elementary School, will continue to work in the district. Melton said though he doesn’t have definite plans for his retirement yet, he sees himself continuing to work to some degree.

“I could see myself still working in some capacity, staying busy and being able to reduce hours and enjoy retirement at the same time,” he said.

The district will immediately begin a search to fill the vacancy at West for the upcoming school year.