School retirees honored

     PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Eight retiring SAD 1 employees were recognized at the June 11 school board meeting for their years of dedicated service and contributions to the district.
• Helen Merriam, adult education teacher, is leaving with 28 years of service to the district.
“Helen was hired as an instructor in adult education in October of 1986, and has taught many, many classes over those 28 years including business math, accounting and all kinds of computer classes,” said Larry Fox, SAD 1’s curriculum director and former adult education director. “She also tutors students that need extra help, and Helen is always available to sub for instructors and in the office.
“Helen always had glowing evaluations; students came back and took several courses with her and also made note of her sense of humor,” he said. “We’re going to miss Helen. She has spent a lot of time in the adult ed program, and there’s so many things happening in adult ed today, as well, and Helen has been an integral part of that over the last 28 years and I want to congratulate her on her career with us.”
• Cheryl Martin, fifth-grade teacher at Zippel Elementary School, is retiring with 15 years of service to SAD 1 and 27 years’ teaching experience overall.
“Through the years Cheryl has become a master teacher … very much respected and sought after. She’s worked hard to make clear standards and high goals for her students,” said Sharon Brown, Zippel principal. “She’s worked to provide motivational and inspirational lessons, and has created materials where they do not exist. She has taught with enthusiasm to capture the minds of students who are used to learning through sound bites.
“But what really matters is that she is present for the students in front of her. She recognizes each as an individual and she cares about each one of them,” Brown said. “Cheryl makes an impact and makes a difference because she takes a chance on the child.”
Martin said she knew early on that teaching others was her calling.
“I knew when I was 9 years old that I was going to be a teacher because I received a chalkboard for Christmas and I taught my little brother how to write his name,” said Martin. “My love for teaching hasn’t wavered, and I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to have worked here in Presque Isle and been able to teach so many children. I really have loved it.”
• Diana Mulherin, special education teacher at Zippel, is leaving with 15 years of service to the district and 34 years’ teaching experience overall.
“Diana has devoted her professional life to serving the most needy among us, and she believes in the ability of every child to succeed and in the goodness of every child,” said Brown. “She is a pivotal person in the life of our school for she often stands between the student and defeat. We send her children who cannot manage their feelings, children who cannot manage their behaviors in constructive ways, and children so occupied with the events in their lives that they are unavailable to learn. We send her the students that we are unsuccessful with. We expect her to teach them and we expect miracles, but the students don’t expect miracles; they expect a safe harbor and they find it there with Diana. There is no judgment, no personal animosity … only a calm acceptance of a child in that moment.
“Not all hurts can be healed but they can be soothed and Diana is a wonderful soother. Not all change is quick; it takes many years, but Diana is a person who can stay the course. She treats the child first and academics second,” Brown said. “She has offered unconditional respect and regard, and it is that loving influence that stays with the child long after the school day ends. We send you on your way with unconditional respect and regard.”
Mulherin said she feels very blessed to have worked in the district.
“I have just loved this job. It’s been my favorite,” she said. “It’s been the most intense, but the most rewarding. I’m proud to be a part of this district. It’s an emotional ending for me. Thank you so much to anyone who has supported me.”
• Cathy Allen, second-grade teacher at Pine Street Elementary School, is retiring with 31 years of service to the district.
“When I think of Cathy I think of how extremely organized she is. If you go into her classroom, it is one of the neatest classrooms I’ve ever entered,” said Principal Loretta Clark. “Not only is it organized, but everything on the wall and around the room is balanced. It’s a very nurturing, welcoming environment. You walk in and you feel welcomed and like you’re at home. Cathy has wonderful plans; she thinks about what each child needs throughout the year, not just today, and she touches some of those dear, little ones that need that extra loving, nurturing hand and guides them in a very non-obvious way.
“I could place a challenging child with her and she would take them and move ahead with them every single day; not always an easy road to do, but she did it,” said Clark. “Every year she gave all of her little ones those wings to explore and to make positive growth. She loved those children, and I wish her the best in her retirement.”
Allen said she has enjoyed her career with SAD 1.
“I’m a graduate of this school district; I’ve spent my entire life here. I attended UMPI, so I feel like I’ve been very blessed to be able to teach the students of this community, as well,” said Allen. “I want to thank you all for that opportunity, and I’ve always been proud to be a member of this school district.”
• Carolyn Phelps, second-grade teacher at Pine Street, is retiring with 39 years of service to the district and 40 years’ teaching experience overall.
“Carolyn is always pitching in and lending a hand. If you ever need something extra done, you go to Carolyn; she’s always there to help support. I think that’s where a parent came up with ‘Mrs. Phelps Helps.’ She was always helping and ready and eager to jump on board and be there for everyone,” said Clark.
“She is tech-savvy and has come a long way because 40 years ago there were no computers in the classroom,” she said. “She even does Facebook, so I call her very tech-savvy. I wish you the best with your retirement. I know you have certainly enjoyed it, and I’ve treasured the time that I’ve been able to work with you.”
Phelps called her career with SAD 1 a “blessing.”
“It’s been a blessing to spend my whole life in this district and to have made an impact on this community,” she said, noting she has taught more than 700 children. “I go out with joy knowing that I’ve made a difference and that I’ve touched some lives and that some children can read because of me, and that some children feel valued and treasured because of me. I do thank you so much for letting me spend a lifetime doing what I’ve loved to do.”
• Larry Fox is retiring with 25 years of service to SAD 1.
“Of all the administrators I’ve had over the years, Larry is probably the most traveled and versatile. I’ve asked him to take on a lot of leadership jobs, including principal, adult education director, vocational director and curriculum director, because of the leadership qualities he has,” said Superintendent Gehrig Johnson. “He always would say to me, ‘Wherever you need me … wherever I can best serve, I’m going to do and I’m going to do it the best way that I can,’ and he did. For that I will always be appreciative.
“Larry is a very strong moral compass … just a good man and there’s not a lot of those people these days,” he said. “He’s one of those rare guys that you both respect and like. He will be missed.”
Fox said he has enjoyed being a part of the team all these years.
“It really takes a team effort to educate our children, and I’ve always been proud to be a member of this team in SAD 1,” he said. “I consider all of you teammates, and I’ve had a chance to play a lot of positions on the team and I’m thankful for that. Thank you very much for the opportunities you’ve given me.”
• Donna Lisnik, principal at Presque Isle High School, is leaving with 22 years of service to SAD 1 and 27 years’ experience overall.
“In 1987, Donna joined us as a math teacher at the high school, and as soon as she came into the high school, she became a leader amongst the teachers. She had that quality about her,” said Johnson. “She’s a very strong woman and a very strong leader. Donna also holds the distinction of being the first female principal at PIHS and the first alumni of PIHS to be the principal of the high school. That’s quite a distinction.
“There’s a very strong culture of excellence at Presque Isle High School; it’s been there for a long time. That doesn’t happen by accident, and Donna has held that culture of excellence and that bar very high,” he said. “I wish you well. We’re going to miss you.”
Lisnik said she’s proud of what she’s accomplished in SAD 1.
“I’ve been given so many opportunities in this district; it’s just absolutely amazing,” she said. “My goal when I started was to be the principal of this high school. My Mom went here, my husband went here, I went here, all our kids went here, and I wanted to be the first female principal and the first alum and I made that. That doesn’t just happen. That comes because I’m surrounded by good people who appreciated my work and who were willing to give me a chance. Thank you.”
• Sharon Brown is retiring with 31 years of service in SAD 1 and 36 years’ experience total.
“Sharon has such a big heart. She keeps me informed and always has things so organized and knows her staff so well. I mentored her in the early years and she’s mentored me in the last several years,” said Johnson. “She’s a very good friend and quite witty and can hold her own in any argument or discussion. You’re not going to get ahead of her. She’s very protective of her students and her staff, and I’ve always appreciated that. I know the staff loves her, and so do the kids and so do I, and we’ll miss her. Sharon has been right in the center of everything good that’s happened in this district for decades and we’ll miss you very, very much.”
As this chapter in her life closes, Brown said she has hopes about writing the next paragraph.
“They say life is a book and you get one paragraph. My paragraph has mostly been written here in SAD 1. I’ve had opportunities that have been extraordinary, and the paragraph is written with people,” she said. “I have so many connections with the people right here in this room, and so many people have mentored me and supported me and enriched my life. My only hope is that when that paragraph is written I can say that I have also influenced some others. Thanks so much.”
Also retiring from SAD 1 but not attending the recognition ceremony were: Karen Anderson, the district’s special education secretary. She leaves with nine years in SAD 1 and a total of 14 years’ total experience; Deborah Smith, special education ed tech at PIHS (15 years with SAD 1), Rodney Merriam, bus driver (19 years) and Karen Shaw, second-grade teacher at Pine Street (39 years).
The retirees, who were each recognized with a plaque and a gift certificate, represent a combined 338 years of experience.