After 36 years in education, Peet administrator set to retire

Associate Principal Dave Meyer

Associate Principal Dave Meyer of Holmes Junior High has worked in education for 36 years. His last three years have been at Holmes.

He was a teacher for 21 years at Vinton High School and Decorah Middle School and High School.  He was a middle school principal at MFL-MarMac for five years and a high school principal at Aplington-Parkersburg for seven years before he came to Cedar Falls.

After this year, Meyer is going to be retiring. “I have enjoyed my time at Holmes. The teaching and working staff have been wonderful to work with. The students have been great as well,” Meyer said.

He plans to continue to help others during his retirement with volunteer work. “Anything I can do to help others in need. I will also spend more time with my family and grandchildren,” Meyer said.

Meyer has left a positive impact on all students that he has been with, but he also says Holmes has left a positive effect on him as well. “I have met outstanding people everywhere I have been. Holmes is no exception. I will cherish the friendships that I have made through education,” Meyer said.

He said he enjoyed seeing students succeed more than anything else. “I have seen many students go on to do great things. The growth I have witnessed academically, athletically and as people of character has been tremendous.”

Other staff members have also reflected on Meyer’s career. “I am going to miss everything about Mr. Meyer. I will miss his ability to handle any situation. He is so incredibly kind and patient with students, staff and parents. He works so hard and always has time to handle any situation he is presented with. Mr. Meyer understands the importance of forming relationships with students and staff and has gone above and beyond in really working with our students,” counselor Angela Wittmer said.

His lasting impact on students and staff is shown every day at Holmes. “Mr. Meyer has been the most influential person I have ever worked with. I have learned so much from him. He truly strives to make every day better for kids, and I see him doing that. He has a true servant’s heart. He has made the culture and climate in this building better just by being here and caring about kids. I will miss working with him on tough situations. He is and continues to be the most caring and dedicated person I know,” Wittmer said.

Everything he did throughout his career in education was to better the people around him. “I will miss Mr. Meyer most for his friendly nature and how he always asks you how things are going and genuinely is interested in your life. At the beginning of the year when I was struggling to find my way in this new position as instructional coach, he wisely said, ‘Let it evolve.’ That phrase has resonated with me all year and has kept me focused on the main things. Mr. Meyer is an amazing relationship builder and when you watch him interact with others, both students and staff members, you want to be like him. A leader who I will greatly miss, and I am very grateful he has spent the last three years at Holmes,” instructional coach and former teacher Lisa Johnson said.