ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School principal Helen Mihos, who will be retiring this August, stands with a portrait of herself that was created by RAW Art Works.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Looking around her small office crowded with art, books and her trademark red high heel knick knacks, Helen Mihos is glad she isn’t retiring for more than six weeks.
“I need that much time to clean up,” said the Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School principal .
Mihos, a 37-year educator and city resident, will say her goodbyes to students, parents and most of Lincoln-Thomson’s teachers this month.
The parting will be a tough one for Sylvia Cabral, mother of three Lincoln-Thomson students and a school library volunteer.
“There is a presence about her,” she said. “You know she runs the school.”
Mihos has led Lincoln-Thomson for a dozen years following a stint as principal at Ingalls Elementary School. Her career began in 1979, when Jimmy Carter was president, as an English as a Second Language teacher. She worked with Vietnamese children who fled their war-torn country for the U.S.
But Mihos’ love of teaching dates back to her childhood.
“Honestly, my first memories are gathering kids in the neighborhood around a blackboard,” she said.
Mihos grew up speaking Greek and initiatives to desegregate public schools paired Mihos early in her career with former School Superintendent James Leonard. He spearheaded student integration at the Washington Community School while Mihos taught Greek-American students.
She traded in teaching for principalships nearly two decades ago. But Mihos never lost the thrill of starting a new school year by buying fresh supplies and watching a fresh set of young faces file in the front door.
“Every day is rewarding,” she said. “You never have the same day twice.”
Paige Kelly started her teaching career this year at Lincoln-Thomson where she teaches third grade. She called Mihos “a great leader” who reminds teachers to “let school be fun.”
JoAnne Kelly has taught for 23 years and said she appreciates Mihos’ honesty, her advocacy for her kids and her teachers and her fashion sense.
Jayden Thelusma, a second grader, looks forward to Friday when students will recite poems they have memorized as part of a poetry program launched by Mihos.
“She’s a good judge of ‘Poetry Power,’” Thelusma said.
Mihos is apprehensive about retirement. But she’s also excited and smiles knowingly when asked if there is any chance she might be called out of retirement to fill in as a principal.
“I love my job,” she said. “It’s been a blur. When I run into kids in their caps and gowns I think, ‘I had them in school yesterday.’”
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected]
