By any standard of measurement, the 2015-2016 school year has been one of excitement, and change, for Perry’s Ned Menke.
Those changes will continue for the 2016-2017 school year as well, as Menke announced Friday that he will resign his head coaching position effective at Monday’s meeting of the Perry School Board.
The eight-year head coach helped guide the Bluejays to their first state tournament appearance since 1988 this season. Along the way, he garnered statewide honors at the Character Counts Coach of the Year.
The accolades continued Tuesday, when Menke was named Perry Citizen of the Year by the Perry Chamber of Commerce at their annual banquet.
Menke, who has been with the Perry Community School District for 10 years, will also step down as the Dean of Students at Perry Elementary and will join Joel Martin as co-principals at Perry Elementary for the next school year. Current PES principal Trevor Miller recently announced his resignation in order to become superintendent of schools at Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton.
Perry High School students were taking Iowa Assessment tests this week, so Menke opted to keep the news of his resignation quiet in order not to create a distraction for his players.
Menke told ThePerryNews.com that his decision was based upon career advancement within the Perry school system and his desire for more free time with his family. He and wife Meg have two small children, a son, Pierce, who recently turned four years old, and a daughter, Brynn, who is one year old.
ThePerryNews.com will have much more from Menke, as well as reaction from others, after Monday’s meeting.
