Meyers leaves the district on a high note
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Most people have no idea what they want to do with their lives when they enter college. Others still don't know by the time they graduate from college. There are some that never decide what it is that they want to do.

And then there are those who know exactly what they want to be from the time they hit sixth grade.

Ellen Meyers is one of those people and unlike other sixth-grade girls who may want to be movie stars, singers or princesses, Meyers wanted to be a teacher. And that's exactly what she did.

And now after 35 years in education, 25 years in the Shrewsbury School District and two years as the town's Special Education director, Ellen Meyers will hang up her hat at the end of the school year.

"My career has been a blessing and it's what I always wanted, but it's time to say when," Meyers said.

Meyers has worked in many areas of education in and out of the classroom and although her career has been varied, there is one common thread strung through every job she's had.

"I think," she said, "to all of my positions I've brought a listening ear and a sense of calmness."

After two years as Shrewsbury's Special Education director, Ellen Meyers will retire in June. PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ

During her time in Shrewsbury, Meyers said she is particularly proud of the work she did with the alternative high school program, the organization that she helped bring to student activities and the increased morale she's brought to the Special Education Department.

Meyers said she's also proud of the work the department has done creating a more standardized set of department policies and procedures that will spread across each of the schools in the district.

After working closely together, Meyers said leaving her staff of 100 professionals and 75 paraprofessionals at the end of the year will be the hardest thing about retirement.

"This Special Education staff , preschool through 12, is just remarkable. It's very hard to leave them," Meyers said. "I don't think anyone knows how hard they work and how much they care for the children in our program."

The Special Education Department has come under fire in recent years as the school budget has gotten tighter, and residents have begun questioning the cost of programming.

As she leaves, Meyers said she's hoping people take the time to become more educated about the needs of the department, and the students it serves.

"Many people wonder why we would spend money on that population, but I always say, 'There but for the grace of God go you,'" she said. "What would you do if it were your child?"

Meyers said the additional costs associated with educating children with special needs pale in comparison to the incredible benefits that these students receive.

"In my career I have seen remarkable things happen with kids because of education," she said. "We don't give up on kids and just because you may not have a child with special needs doesn't mean they don't deserve an education."

Meyers said she does understand people's frustration with the skyrocketing costs associated with Special Education, and she intends to do something about it.

"The biggest issue with Special Education at the moment is that the mandated programs that were supposed to be funded at 40 percent have never been funded more than 18 percent," she said. "It's a very big problem and I'm going to start working on changing that."

Retirement for Meyers means that in addition to the work she intends to do fighting for better funding for Special Education, she'll continue to be an active member of her synagogue and very active in the Tourette Syndrome Association.

"This is just the beginning," she said.