A Battle Mountain native, he plays the piano and speaks Japanese. Now, he will be leading the way as the principal of Battle Mountain Junior High School starting officially on July 1.
Toby Melver, father of three and self-described sports fanatic, plans to let his enthusiasm for his new job take over as he settles in and gets to know students, staff, parents and district officials.
"I'm excited," he said. "It's a good opportunity for me to get back to Battle Mountain. It's a good school that I've been put in charge of with a great staff. The kids in Battle Mountain have always been great to work with as well as the parents and community so I'm looking forward to that."
The 1990 Battle Mountain High School graduate is already familiar with the community. He moved to Battle Mountain in the fifth grade.
"I love Battle Mountain," he said. "We enjoy what it has to offer. We enjoy the people and it's a good place to raise our family."
In addition to his enthusiasm, Melver will be bringing with him a wealth of experience. He currently serves as principal of Northside Elementary School in Elko, a position he has held for six years.
Born in Portland, Ore., Melver lived in many places around Oregon and Washington before his family settled in Battle Mountain.
After graduating high school, he went on a mission in Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1991 to 1993.
In 1997, he graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in secondary education/English and that same year, began teaching at Lowry High School in Winnemucca. He taught English, journalism and Japanese. He was also an athletics coach and the yearbook adviser.
He graduated in 2002 from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Master of Education in educational leadership. That same year, he became vice principal of Sweet Home Junior High School in Sweet Home, Ore., for one year before moving home to Battle Mountain to serve for four years as principal of Battle Mountain High School. After that, he spent one year as the principal of Eleanor Lemaire Elementary School and the Austin Schools.
He then went to Elko where he started out as vice principal of Southside Elementary School before moving onto the principal position at Northside Elementary School. He lived in Battle Mountain while he was working in Elko.
He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2011 with a Doctorate of Education in educational leadership.
He is married to Lana Melver. The couple's three children are Abby, 16, Grace, 13 and Mason, 4.
Melver's hobbies consist of anything having to do with sports and reading historical fiction.
Contact Heather Hill at h.hill@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
