After 28 years, Debbie Melcher is “hanging up her P.E. whistle.”

Melcher, who is an elementary physical education teacher, will be retiring at the end of this school year.

During her teaching career, all of which has been based out of Jefferson, she has taught at all of the elementary schools because of the reorganization and the sharing of P.E. teachers. She is currently teaching at Jefferson, Grandview and Lincoln.

“I truly love getting up every morning and coming to this job because the kids love coming to P.E.,” she said. “I like to see them having fun.”

Her goal is simple.

“I think they need to enjoy physical education so down the road, as adults, they continue to be active,” she said. “They will develop a healthy lifestyle.”

While P.E. has remained nearly the same over the years as compared to other classes, new activities have been added, such as the cup stacking for hand-eye coordination.

“Most P.E. teachers try to use cross-curriculum where they try to bring in math or reading,” Melcher said. “I find it just happens.

“Along with that, I try to implement creative activities so they kids don’t realize they’re working their bodies so hard. They think they’re just having fun.”

But P.E. goes beyond just movement and fitness.

“Part of my job is to teach them social skills,” she said.

They learn how to work as a team and to demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Melcher was influenced in her decision for a career by her own teachers.

“I came from an athletic family,” she said. “My P.E. teacher in high school influenced me and her husband was the boys’ P.E. teacher and he influenced me too.”

She moved to El Dorado with her husband, Gary Melcher – who also retired this year as athletic director at the high school – in 1974. But there wasn’t an opening for her for six years.

“It’s been just a wonderful profession,” she said. “I’ve just enjoyed thoroughly the staff at every building.”

But it is time for Melcher to do some new things.

“I just think it’s time to have someone with young and fresh ideas,” she said.

Plus, she is going to be a first-time grandmother this July and will be serving as a babysitter for a year beginning next fall. Her sons also both coach and she wants to watch some of their games.

Melcher also plans to do some volunteer work as well.