Riverside High honors retirements of two longtime educators

Riverside High School marked the retirements of Lex Suite and Jeff Melton in quick succession, closing out two long careers that shaped students in very different parts of the building. The Decatur County Schools live feed put both recognitions in front of families as the district heads toward the 2026-27 school year.

Suite is retiring after 34 years in education, ending his run as principal of Riverside High School. The district described him as a veteran educator who led with integrity and spent his career celebrating students, recognizing their achievements, and pushing them to succeed inside and outside the classroom. Current principal Amanda Keeton said the last few years with Suite made a strong impact on Riverside students, while Board of Education Supervisor Hugh Smith praised his professionalism, work ethic, dependability, and trust. Director of Schools Melinda Thompson said his leadership left a lasting contribution to the district.

Melton is retiring after more than 35 years in education. His work centered on special education, where he spent years helping children who needed individualized instruction and steady support. The district said he worked with students as they navigated challenges and reached educational goals, and Riverside’s principal described him as a hard worker who would take on any task, big or small. She also said he was well-liked by students and teachers and was always willing to help wherever he was needed.

The two retirements leave Riverside losing both a top-building leader and a long-serving direct support staff member at the same time. That kind of turnover matters in a smaller district like Decatur County, where relationships, memory, and daily continuity often depend on a handful of experienced educators who know the students, the families, and the routines that keep a school running.

The timing also puts the focus on continuity as summer staffing updates continue and the district prepares for the year ahead. For families, the retirements signal more than two empty positions. They mark the departure of adults who spent decades in Decatur County classrooms and hallways, and who helped define Riverside’s culture long before the first bell of the new school year.