After 35 years in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent all around California schools, Mountain View-Los Altos (MVLA) Superintendent Nellie Meyer is preparing to retire. What’s Meyer looking forward to the most, other than no longer enduring long District Board meeting nights?

“I’m not kidding, I’m really excited about getting a dog,” Meyer said. “I’m still processing things because it’s hard to think about retirement plans when you’ve worked your entire life.”

Meyer has been working since she was a teen, starting with a variety of customer service jobs.

“My family believed that if I wanted anything, I needed to go find money and work myself to get it,” Meyer said. “I worked as a restaurant waiter, also at Jack in the Box, I valet parked, I even worked at Chuck E. Cheese and had to be the birthday party mouse — I remember hating that the most.”

Both of Meyer’s parents worked in education; her mother worked as a teacher, while her father was a principal. Despite originally believing she’d do something “completely different” as an act of rebellion, she eventually found herself following in her parents’ footsteps.

“I was determined to do anything other than teaching when I was younger,” Meyer said. “My mom was a teacher for three decades, and she was even teaching while pregnant with me. Education has just naturally and successfully pulled me in.”

Meyer moved to San Diego to work as a humanities teacher for 15 years, then as an assistant principal, then a principal. She continued rising through the ranks, reaching assistant superintendent and then deputy superintendent, where she helped supervise over 200 K-12 schools.

“The responsibility as superintendent is difficult and I take my job very, very seriously,” Meyer said. “I sincerely believe in the importance of education and that schools have the obligation to give our students the best. When you’re with a group of people who have similar beliefs and goals to you, it makes it easier, but for all jobs it’s never easy.”

When she was recruited by the Mount Diablo Unified School District, Meyer took on her first role as superintendent and worked there for six years. In 2019, Meyer was recruited to the MVLA School District, where she has been serving as superintendent for five years.

“Growing up, I never thought I’d be a school superintendent,” Meyer said. “Working as a teacher, I was just trying to do my best at what I was currently doing, but I had mentors who encouraged me to step into more difficult roles.”

At MVLA, most people will see Meyer either sitting in her designated green chair during Board meetings, or visiting the three MVLA school campuses. From facilitating Board meetings to preparing months in advance for District events, she sets the standard for organization in the District.

Similar to Meyer, MVLA Student Board Representative senior Sadie Gracon will also be departing from the Board this year.

“What I appreciate most about Meyer is her motive to always improve the District and herself,” Gracon said. “She always asks me during and after Board meetings what the District should be doing differently, and how we should better serve students. It’s empowered me to think more deeply about LAHS and what students would want to see from their school.”

For Meyer, working as MVLA superintendent has been an exercise in optimism.

“I firmly believe that even when people aren’t currently their best selves, they can get better,” Meyer said. “My optimism has grown stronger over the past years as superintendent. I love listening and learning, and I take so much joy in discovering new things every day.

As the 2023-2024 school year comes to an end, the start of finding a new superintendent has begun by the Board of Trustees. Meyer’s work ethic and expertise have led the District successfully for five years now, and the Board only wishes Meyer well.

“I have had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Meyer and am constantly impressed by her ability to be informative and communicative whether it’s a PTSA meeting, Challenge Team gathering, or Board meeting,” Board vice president Esmeralda Ortiz said. “To me, her superintendent reports during Board meetings are what stand out the most. They truly highlight student impact across the District and keep the Board and MVLA community grounded on our true north, the students.”

The rest of the District have also expressed their gratitude towards Meyer, especially the friendly connection they’ve grown with her.

“Oh, I’m going to miss her humor,” administrative assistant Amy Vargas said. “I’ll be stressing because I’m trying to quickly respond to someone, and Meyer will come in with a one-liner and make a joke. It just takes the edge off and makes me laugh. She’s quite witty, so I’ll miss that.”

“In one word, Dr. Meyer is invested,” Sadie said. “She’s invested in change, invested in making sure the Board is doing good, and invested in student success. When a lot of students’ goals are to be successful in life, I feel that’s the best type of leader to have. It’s good to have someone believe that we can be successful.”

Meyer’s favorite part of being superintendent? A good challenge.

“I love challenging complex problems,” Meyer said. “It’s fun but not easy, so they really make each day exciting and have kept me going all these years. I want to make sure that these last few months up until graduation I’m present and I’m here at MVLA to make a positive difference.”