Melissa Jenkins, center, has retired as library media specialist at Discovery Middle School. Discovery Principal Melanie Barkley, at left, and superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler congratulate Jenkins. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Melissa ‘Missy’ Jenkins has retired as library media specialist at Discovery Middle School.

Reflecting on her career, her major accomplishment was “going back to college after teaching 12 years and getting my certification to be a library media specialist.”

She worked as a speech and language therapist for Madison County Schools and Madison City Schools from 1986 to 1998. She then worked as library media specialist at Horizon Elementary School until transferring for the same job at Discovery in 2007.

In both the county and city school districts, Jenkins has taught for 28 years.

Jenkins offered good advice to the person that follows her in the job at Discovery. “Try to remember that it is all about the students,” she said. “Everything else is secondary.”

From all of her associates in the field of education, Jenkins said, “Mrs. McGuiness will always be special to me. She was one of the most caring, yet professional, principals I ever had the privilege of working for.”

Jenkins earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in communication disorders at Auburn University. At Jacksonville State University, she received an add-on certification in library media.

“Having earned two degrees from Auburn University, I love Auburn and dream of moving back there someday,” she said.

She and husband Greg Jenkins have two children, Mallory Jenkins Nelson and Madalyn Jenkins.

Missy Jenkins’ main goal now that she has retired is to “relax. And then I will tackle some projects at home,” she said.