|
|
East Longmeadow Schools kick off new year by honoring the past |
|
|
| |
(back row, left to right) Superintendent Ed Costa, James O'Hearn, Diane Berneche, Willard Brown. (front row) Joan Dobias, Julie Nichols and Estelle Krause. O'Hearn, Berneche, Brown, Nichols and Krause were the 2009 inductees in the East Longmeadow Schools Hall of Fame; Dobias accepted the honor on the behalf of her late husband, Coach Robert Dobias.
Reminder Publications photo by Courtney Llewellyn
|
By Courtney Llewellyn
Reminder Assistant Editor
EAST LONGMEADOW The East Longmeadow Public Schools welcomed new staff members at its convocation ceremony on Sept. 2 and honored six former staff members by inducting them into the school's Hall of Fame.
There will be three new employees at Meadow Brook; three at Mountain View; eight at Birchland Park; four at the high school; and one custodian that will cover all three elementary schools.
This year's inductees into the Hall of Fame included classroom and special education teachers, a reading specialist and a coach.
Diane Berneche worked in the East Longmeadow Public Schools for 30 years at Mapleshade Elementary and Birchland Park Middle School. Deborah Barry, who introduced Berneche, said that former principal Wayne Wilson likened Berneche to a lighthouse at Mapleshade. She was noted as being very organized and an effective communicator.
Estelle Krause began her career in East Longmeadow in 1961 as an English Language Arts instructor at the middle school. She was described as someone who gave dignity to the job of being a teacher, someone who was energetic and enthusiastic, and as a supportive colleague and friend.
"I hardly recognize the person they were talking about," Krause joked.
Reading specialist Julie Nichols was honored with an ode in the style of Dr. Seuss. She worked for 24 years in the old Center School, Mountain View and Mapleshade schools.
"I went through the East Longmeadow schools, and did my children and so are my grandchildren," Nichols said. "I'm honored you're going to put me up on your wall."
Willard Brown's former student Judy Bates described his old classroom as being like a museum of science and art. She described him as the students' "own world wide web," and said that saying thank you seemed too simple for his four decades of service.
"I'm honored, excited and grateful," Brown stated. He told the other teachers in attendance to keep their enthusiasm for their students so that they would go far.
James O'Hearn taught for 39 years at Birchland Park and touched a lot of parents and students - he received 19 nomination letters in support of his induction. O'Hearn taught English and TV production, coached soccer and produced musicals.
He is now in his 45th year of teaching, instructing TV production in Ludlow. O'Hearn said that teaching is one of the noblest professions.
Honored posthumously was Coach Robert Dobias, who worked as a physical education teacher, athletic director and football coach. He still holds the record for most wins as a coach - 88 - and led East Longmeadow to win its first Super Bowl. His family - wife Joan, sons Jeff and Bob and daughter Debbie, accepted the award on his behalf. Dobias passed away this May.
The East Longmeadow Hall of Fame has similar induction policies to the Baseball Hall of Fame staff members must have worked for 20 years in the district (coaches, 10 years) and must be retired for five years before they can be considered. Twenty-four former teachers, coaches and employees have been inducted over the past five years, and all with unanimous votes from the eight-member selection committee.
"One of the best ways to start a new school year is to remember those who came before us," Superintendent Ed Costa noted.
The East Longmeadow Public Schools officially open for the 2009-10 school year on Sept. 8.
|
Comments From Our Readers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
