Mid-Prairie holds retirement party

Kalen McCain

Jun. 20, 2022 12:15 am

Mark Schneider visits with Miranda and Chris Malichky at his retirement celebration. The outgoing superintendent said he was moved by the community's support. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

Mark Schneider (left) talks with ag science teacher Jeff Foster (middle) and Linda Huber (right.) True to form, the superintendent is seconds from bursting into laughter. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

Signs outside the Mid-Prairie High School parking lot thank Mark Schneider for his service to the community. The superintendent's educational career stretches back 43 years, that majority of which he spent as the district's superintendent. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

WELLMAN — Mid-Prairie hosted a retirement party for outgoing Superintendent Mark Schneider Thursday night. The district’s head administrator of 21 years will finish his tenure on June 30.

Schneider said it would be a tough goodbye.

“Obviously it’s bittersweet, part of you looks forward to the next chapter of your life, and part of you is a little apprehensive,” he said. “It’s a lot of mixed emotions … it was hard to say goodbye to the seniors at graduation, it was hard to say goodbye to the staff members at the last all-district meeting, it’s hard to say goodbye but I’m still a member of the community, I’ll still be around, I plan on putting my name on the volunteer list.”

The outgoing superintendent said he was grateful for the district’s support.

“I’m just very appreciative to the community for everything they’ve done for me and my family,” he said.

Schneider has no big plans yet, save for a quick family trip and plans to attend the county and state fair this summer. He said the change hadn’t completely sunk in yet.

“It probably won’t really hit me until school starts in August,” he said. “Then that’s when it all hits me that, ‘Oh, my life has changed.’”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com