"Middle school is a special group," Sue McElroy said, eyes twinkling as she recalled the students she's known over nearly three decades in education. "Everyone has a gift matching them to a specific age."

McElroy, principal of Pea Ridge Middle School, is retiring the end of June. She has led the middle school to honors every year she has served in Pea Ridge.

Previously a math teacher in Valley Springs and Yellville, McElroy said she can't just sit in her office. She is often in the classroom or the hallways talking to students and teachers.

"When I first started (as principal), I really missed the classroom," McElroy said. "I'm out there with the kids."

Not one to sit still, McElroy can be found in the hallway, the classroom, the lunchroom mingling with the students, visiting with them and the teachers.

"I realized that I was able to do more -- for more -- as an administrator," she said. "We do more than just education."

"I come from a family of educators -- my dad was a former teacher, principal,"she said, adding that her niece teaches in Rogers and several cousins teach in Boone County.

McElroy said teachers and school administrators minister to the entire child, not just his mind. She said the concept of middle school developed in the 1980s with the realization that students in the sixth- to eighth-grade age range are facing unique challenges.

"This age group is going through so much physical change. They're not little any more, but they're not big. They're trying to figure out who they are.

"We try to be familiar with where they're coming from and what they've got going on in their life," she said. "That helps you make that determination ... rather than come hard with discipline. I try to understand them and try to help them. I try to explain to the students that we all have to be accountable for our actions. I take the time to explain to them that I could get in trouble in my job, just like they can get in trouble at school. I want them to think about these things because the decisions they set now, set their future."

At Pea Ridge, McElroy said the school feels like family and praised the work of her teachers, crediting them with the achievements of the school.

"They're the ones -- that's where the rubber hits the road. I've been so blessed to have great teachers," she said. "Anything and everything that I've asked them to do, they've stepped up and done. It takes all of us -- not only teachers, but students and students' parents. It really does take the whole community effort."

One unique program at the middle school is "Mi Futero" -- my future, a program with Walmart for eighth-grade students who come from parents who haven't gone to college. The goal is to help encourage the students that hard work and education can provide a better future. McElroy said the program was first started in New Mexico and one of the parents in Pea Ridge helped get Pea Ridge involved as the first school in Arkansas.

"Walmart managers come in once a month and work with the students and talk about college and different career paths. It's been a very successful program," she said. She said it culminates with a visit to Walmart home offices and a graduation program.

"It's (Pea Ridge schools) is one of the best ones ... the administrators are real forward thinking. The administration will research new concepts and ideas and not just jump on any bandwagon. And, once a decision is made, they ride it out," she said. "It's very frustrating in education that when new things come down the pike, you've got to ride it out and see if it works."

"The district is very supportive. Technology is the way we've got to go at this point. The future is there with our students.

"What we're going to try to do next year is try to get chrome books in every child's hands, just like the high school has. Even if that's not possible, have it accessible ... so teachers can have them in the classroom to do work on or to research," she said.

"Every year, we try to do a big Benchmark pep rally dance and get the kids pumped up," she said. One year, the theme of the Benchmark preparation was Bikes, Blues and Benchmark and she came into the assembly on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. "We had coach (Mike) Harrod and Mr. (Mat) McCool played rock and roll. They thought that was really cool ... the kids thought that was amazing."

Over the years, some students have come back to thank her.

"There was one young man, he really struggled. He came back to tell me he really missed it here and appreciated all we'd done. He had problems with behavior and not wanting to work. At one point, I had him check in with me every morning at the office so we could start his day off on a positive note.

"You start to feel like you've given birth to all these kids. I try to let them know we do care," McElroy said.

And, the children care back. She recalled "the best Christmas present I ever received" was a hand-made gift from a sixth-grade student that he'd wrapped himself. "You could tell he put a lot of thought into it and not just gone out with mom and bought something."

McElroy's resignation was accepted Monday, March 10, by Pea Ridge School Board members "with regret." Fellow educators respect her.

• "I'm very proud of the accomplishments of Sue McElroy. The Pea Ridge Middle School is recognized throughout the state for outstanding student achievement and those awards are due to her leadership. We recognized Ms. McElroy strong leadership ability when we hired her six years ago as a math teacher. Those strong beliefs and leadership skills landed her the middle school principal's position and the middle school has been one of the top schools in the state since. Her commitment to excellence in math and literacy has created a culture of high expectations for student success. Ms. McElroy laid the foundation for the next middle school leader. The Pea Ridge School District, Board of Education and administrative team wish her well in her retirement." - Rick Neal, superintendent, Pea Ridge School District

• "Ms. McElroy is a great person! She welcomed me to the Pea Ridge family as soon as I arrived. Ms. McElroy has been a great educator for many years, and she will be missed!" - Jon Laffoon, principal, Pea Ridge High School

• "I have had the privilege of working with Ms. McElroy for the past seven years. In that time, Ms. McElroy has helped to develop me as a teacher, a school administrator and a person. Ms. McElroy has instilled in me the qualities of hard work, the importance of setting high expectations for all students, and a never-ending commitment to always making decisions that are best for the students. She has been the driving force at the middle school that has allowed so many students the opportunity to succeed academically. She leaves Pea Ridge Middle School as one of the best performing schools in Arkansas. I hope her legacy will continue on for many years to come." - Matthew Wood, assistant principal, Pea Ridge High School

McElroy has one son, Ty Keeter, who lives in Texarkana with his wife, Megan, and 8-month-old son, Gage. A native of Valley Springs, she earned her bachelor's degree from Arkansas Tech University in mathematics and her master's degree from University of Central Arkansas in education administration. She came to Pea Ridge in 2006.

She grew up on the Buffalo River where her grandparents owned land. She said she goes back there often. She had a connection to Pea Ridge, former school superintendent Roy Norvel was her brother-in-law.

The decision to retire was a difficult one, but it's time for a different stage in her life.

"I'm going to miss everybody. I've loved working with everybody here. It's going to be hard," she said.

"I've lived and breathed education for 29 years," she said.