Longtime Merrillville School Board member Linda Jonaitis has resigned from the board after serving nearly four terms.

Her resignation was effective July 1. The board has 30 days to appoint her replacement.

The school board honored Jonaitis, a retired educator, at its June 20 meeting. She has served on the board since 2010.

She cited personal reasons for her resignation. She was reelected last year, leaving about three years left on her term.

“I am very honored to have served on such a great board,” she said Wednesday. “They’re very child-centered and will make decisions based on what’s best for kids.”

The Hammond native served as principal and assistant principal at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville before taking a job as principal at Highland High School. She finished her career in Steger, Illinois, as an assistant superintendent.

Jonaitis and her family have lived in Merrillville for 31 years.

“We’ll still be part of the community. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate,” she said. “We’ll still be connected, just not in a leadership role.”

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.