Janet Kerley will retire from Haile Middle School

Janet Kerley, 12-year principal at Haile Middle School, who has spent her career working with students and educators, announced her retirement April 8.

Kerley, a former journalist, and reading, writing and traveling enthusiast, has been a part of the Manatee County School District for 25 years, and although she will miss her co-workers and the education field, feels the next chapter of her life — retirement — will prove as rewarding as her previous years.

She plans to travel and add more countries to the list of 35 foreign lands she has visited over the years, and will venture overseas as early as this fall. Kerley will travel to Australia and New Zealand.

Kerley stands among four East County principals of "A" schools who have retired this school year. Other upcoming retirees include: Nancy High, Linda Nesselhauf and Myra Russell.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].