After a long tenure with teaching and education, Matthew Lenger will retire at the end of this school year.

“I have taught in 2 districts, 7 schools, 4+ subjects, students from 5th-12 grade, and been a curriculum coordinator and an assistant principal, so I have done it all,” Lenger said.

He has been a big part of kids’ education in the sense of being able to impact them and give them the knowledge they need.

“I have always tried to pull back the curtain on education for my students and have them understand why we are teaching what we are teaching, which skills (and brain functions) the activities are developing, etc,” Lenger said.

His co-workers have enjoyed his presence in the English department and were very glad to work beside him.

“It was great to have him here for the last couple of years of his career! With our department being on the younger side of our careers, it has been wonderful to have someone with the experience and knowledge of Mr. Lenger in our department,” English teacher Jacob Holtgraewe said.

Department chair, Tori Ramsey, feels that Lenger fit into his new position well.

“We didn’t know who he was or how things were going to go but he was awesome and the kids loved him and it was very easy to work with him. It was a very smooth transition from the old teacher to Lenger and so we were happy to have him,” Ramsey said.

After retirement, Lenger will move on to new hobbies and ways to fill his time.

“I intend to figure out whether or not I have a writing career ahead of me. I have a completed manuscript of a Young Adult Fantasy novel that I have written, so I plan on editing that and sending it off to see if any publishers are interested,” Lenger said. “I also plan to look into voiceover work- commercials, local theater, etc. I have also considered working at Busch Stadium as a tour guide or usher. I have a lot of varied interests, so we’ll just see where they take me.”