Hall County school system principals Wayne Colston of Mount Vernon Elementary and Terry Dover of Lula Elementary have announced they are retiring after this school year.

They join what is turning into a carousel of Hall principals leaving their posts.

Aaron Turpin of Lyman Hall Elementary School will take over as the district’s technology chief, replacing Delane Melton, and Gary Brown is retiring from North Hall High School.

In another personnel move, announced Tuesday night at the Hall County Board of Education meeting, Davis Middle School assistant principal David Robles is leaving his post to become an instructional technology coordinator in the system.

Colston, 54, who has been an educator for 33 years, all in Hall County schools, helped open Mount Vernon, which is at 4844 Jim Hood Road in North Hall, in 1993.

"I was (involved in) everything from the design of the school to putting the sod down," he said.

Because Colston has invested so much of himself in the school, leaving it is bittersweet.

"I’ll be leaving part of myself at this school when I leave May 31," he said.

Dover, 56, will wrap up 34 years in education this year, 25 as a principal and eight as principal at Lula, which is at 6130 Chattahoochee St. in the city.

"I will miss the kids the most," he said. "Every day, I get hugs and smiles from children and realize they may not be getting enough of this at home."

Dover added that retirement means he’ll no longer "have the opportunity to be an influence on their lives."

"I would like to take a bus load of them with me when I go," he added.

Colston will return to the school system in a part-time role, helping out in Superintendent Will Schofield’s office.

Exact duties are "still being discussed," he said. "Part of my responsibilities will deal with facility issues and also working with elementary principals.

"I’m the type of person that can’t retire," he said.

Dover, on the other hand, has no firm plans.

"I have three grandchildren that I want to be a part of their growing up," he said. "Maybe I’ll volunteer in my granddaughter’s school. I will have to find something to keep me busy.

"One thing I do know: I won’t be sitting at home."