Larry Meyer is retiring this month from a decades-long career in education that spanned from Garnavillo and Clayton Ridge to Maquoketa Valley and then the last 10 years as MFL MarMac High School Principal.

“It feels very weird,” said Meyer the week after school let out for the summer. “It’s such a fast paced, busy day—every day. It’s constant go, go, go. Then, all of a sudden, that’s not there. It’s a bittersweet feeling.”

Meyer grew up on a farm three miles east of Monona and graduated from MFL. His junior high teachers and coaches inspired him to pursue a career in education.

“As I got a little older and into high school, I’m like, ‘I could see myself doing this. I could teach. And I’d like to coach,’” he recalled. “I was always very involved in athletics, chorus, the play, you name it.”

Meyer played college baseball while earning his teaching degree, then returned to Northeast Iowa for his first job at Garnavillo. He assumed it would be a short stint, but remained 22 years later.

“I still hadn’t moved because of the quality of people in Northeast Iowa,” he said. “And it’s not just one school. That would include Maquoketa Valley and here and Garnavillo. I was in Garnavillo when they became Clayton Ridge. So I taught at that district a couple of years too.”

Not surprisingly, Meyer listed the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to learn process as the biggest challenge he faced in his career.

“I can still remember the day school was shut down, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, now what? How long is this gonna last? What do we have to do?’ That took more collaboration and more work because there was such a great unknown. How do you plan and prepare for what is unknown? That was definitely the toughest thing,” he said.

His favorite part was building relationships with students and staff and watching them all grow.

Meyer was especially well known for encouraging students to participate in extra-curricular activities—to “get involved.”

“I’m so proud of them for all of the activities that our kids get involved in,” he said. “There’s 70 kids in speech. There’s probably 70 kids in choir, and band is growing. You look at any of the athletic teams, FFA. We just have kids out and doing things. As simple as it may seem, I think it’s kind of the backbone. If you’ve got kids who are active and busy, then they have to learn on their own times. You develop good habits and time management skills. It makes time go quicker. Plus, it’s fun.”

Meyer’s “get involved” tagline even became the theme for a mystery T-shirt developed by the high school’s student-run apparel business, Bulldog Supply Co. A few weeks before the unveiling, Meyer bought one, not knowing what it would say.

“Then the day came, and I didn’t know until they came down and people had them on. It was heartwarming. I would tell kids that all the time, as well as the rest of the staff,” he said.

It was one of several heartwarming gestures Meyer received leading up to retirement. Students presented him with a card and many well wishes, and the band played the fight song in his office on the last day of school.

During a surprise assembly several months ago, former Monona Police Chief and friend Jo Amsden gifted Meyer a hand-crafted wooden cane, which he joked was appropriate for his age. It depicted his career path as well as some hobbies he plans to enjoy more in retirement: fishing and golfing.

Then, as Meyer concluded his speech at high school graduation last month, he received a standing ovation from all in attendance.

“I didn’t know that was going to happen,” he remarked. “I looked up, and my wife had stood up, and I saw [incoming principal] Mr. Bachman stand up, and then [guidance counselor] Ms. Berns stood up. I felt very humbled. I went, ‘That’s the last time I’ll ever speak to people in the community.’ So it was kind of emotional.”

Meyer thanks the community for its support, and of course the students and staff he’s worked with over the years. He’ll miss them the most.

“You don’t do a great job and your kids don’t do so well without having a great staff,” he said. “Our kids are super busy and do well academically. They’re not afraid to try things. All of our staff members are really good at encouraging that and helping out with that.”

While Meyer plans to enjoy traveling, fishing and caring for his lawn in retirement, he also hopes to substitute teach from time to time at MFL MarMac, Clayton Ridge and possibly Central.

“So I’ll get to come back and be able to see people. But I’ll be able to come to the building without worrying about things,” he quipped.

For now, Meyer is reflecting on a career he described as “an incredible ride.” He encourages others to consider education.

“It’s incredibly rewarding, and you have a chance to make a difference in young people’s lives, which goes on to exponentially make a greater difference,” he shared