Former Hood principal Akiba honored

LYNN – Former Hood Elementary School Principal Paula Akiba officially ended her career last month when she joined former colleagues, family and friends at the Danversport Yacht Club to celebrate her long career.Akiba announced her retirement late last year, and this September marked the first time in nearly 40 years the Cambridge resident was not welcoming students on the first day of school.Akiba officially spent 39 years as an educator in the Lynn Public School system, the last 14 as the principal of the Hood School on Oakwood Avenue.More than 80 guests turned out for the event, including longtime colleague and Hood Elementary School teacher Mary Jane Thielhelm, who was master of ceremonies.”Paula’s door was always open to us,” she said. “She always made sure that we had the tools and confidence to do our job on behalf of the children we taught.”Superintendent Nicholas Kostan, who will be following in Akiba’s footsteps when he retires in January, praised the city’s first African American principal for her dedication to students and their families.”Paula has been an intricate fabric of the Lynn School Department community for many years serving as our first African American principal,” he said. “I wish her the best of health and longevity and thank her for years of service to the children of Lynn.”Former Washington Elementary School principal Joseph Cole, who moved on after his school was closed due to budget cuts, replaced Akiba at Hood during a summer that saw several principals retire or change schools.Along with Akiba, the district lost Drewicz Elementary School Principal James Cole, Cobbett Elementary School Principal Linda Lord, Fallon Elementary School Principal S. Lenny Serwacki and Sisson Elementary School Principal John Morris.In 2009, the district is already preparing for at least one principal retirement, as English High School head Andrew Fila has announced he will not renew his contract, which expires Aug. 31.For Akiba’s friends and colleagues, losing a principal who had created a strong bond with families, students and faculty at Hood has been a tough adjustment, but many will continue to lead by the example that she set in her four decades of service.”Paula was the kind of person who was a quick study,” said Classical High School Principal Warren White, who was a friend and mentor of Akiba’s. “Her ideas and intellect served her well and I will always regard her as a close colleague and personal friend. She will be sorely missed.”