Operation Bootstrap honors longtime employees

LYNN – Twenty-one years ago, Nancy Coffey was looking for a teaching a job in the public school system.She stumbled upon and then accepted an open teaching position at Operation Bootstrap. “I thought I will do this until I find a real job,” Coffey said.Coffey, who retired recently as the lead teacher for the organization after 21 years of service, was one of five women honored Thursday night for their tireless service at Operation Bootstrap?s Tapas and Wine Reception at the Lynn Museum. All five have worked over 20 years for Operation Bootstrap.Located at 156 Broad St., Lynn, the non-profit Operation Bootstrap is an adult learning center which fulfills adults? educational needs such as computer classes and English as a second language classes to increase literacy and life skills.?I just fell in love with it,” Coffey said as to why she stayed so long. “It was the best 21 years of my life.”The idea for the evening was sparked by newly appointed Executive Director Edward Tirrell. “When I started this summer I discovered we had these long-term employees,” Tirrell said. “I was thoroughly impressed and thought we should honor them.”Dulany Alexander, Maryclare Forry, Marcia Kane and Susan Merullo were also honored Thursday night.?These women have been with Operation Bootstrap through thick and thin,” Tirrell said. “Without them we wouldn?t be able to do what we do.”The honorees received a silver pendant to symbolize their 20-plus years. They also received letters of congratulations from Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown as well as other trinkets.Beside the humble honorees, the Lynn Museum was filled with enthusiastic students and eager supporters of the organization. Attendees dined on delicious cuisine from local restaurants such as The Blue Ox and Brothers Deli.?I am so impressed. It is all so pretty,” Alexander said, describing the festivities. Alexander has been working for the organization for 23 years and is currently the technology coordinator and ESOL teacher.?I don?t see it as an accomplishment. I just see it as I am blessed to do something I love,” Alexander said. “It has been such a pleasure for the past 20 years to work here. It has been very satisfying.”It has satisfied Coffey as well. “I love the mission of the organization, my colleagues and my students. It has become my passion,” she said.Coffey believes Operation Bootstrap is a vital necessity in the Lynn community because of the English classes it offers. “So many of the students need English, about more than half of them,” Coffey said. “We do a great job teaching them.”One of those students is Vivian Ferreira. A native of Brazil, she started attending classes at Operation Bootstrap to earn her GED and improve her English. “I have learned so many things. Too many to mention,” she said. “It is a good program. It offers a lot to different people.”The organization offers 55 classes a week ranging from computer classes, reading, mathematics and United States citizenship classes. “We help students integrate into the community,” Tirrell said.Alexander continues to be impressed by her students. “I grew up in a middle-class community in the suburbs,” she said. “To see these students work so hard so their family can have a better life is amazing. They are the vision of what this country was founded on. If you work hard, you can achieve anything.”What many love about the organization is the home atmosphere it provides its students and staff. “It is not just a job,” Coffey said. “It?s a community and that?s what makes us special.”?My heart is in the organization,” Lynn School Committee member and Bootstrap board member Maria Carrasco said. “It is like a family.”Tirrell would like to see more support from the Lynn community. “We need people to invest their time, talents and treasures,” Tirrell said. “We need more volunteers and mentors.”?We don?t just teach students but we empower them as well,” Carrasco said.Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].