LYNNFIELD — Michael Boulay was a force.
He was sharp wit and good humor personified, a figure of almost mythic proportions among the students at Lynnfield High School who looked up to him despite his rather short stature. Underneath his endearing brusqueness was an undeniable enthusiasm and tenacity for teaching that serves him even still, as he was posthumously awarded the Dorothy Presser Award during Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting.
“We thought it was a nice tribute for all of his work over the years,” said School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman.
Boulay died unexpectedly over the summer at the age of 61 due to complications that were not related to COVID-19. He taught AP psychology and humanities at Lynnfield High School for more than two decades, in addition to fulfilling the role of social studies department head and serving as an advisor for the National Honor Society. He was also, arguably, a connoisseur of plaid shirts.
To say his coworkers adored him would be an understatement.
“As a colleague, he was exceptional. Every teacher and staff member in the building could rattle off numerous occasions where Mr. Boulay checked in with them or did something kind to help them get through the day,” said Susan Breen, an AP history teacher at LHS. “He also encouraged teachers to work together and collaborate on projects, curriculum development not just within the history and social studies department but among other departments as well. We are a very tight-knit group thanks to him. We all became family.”
During his time at LHS, Boulay was also responsible for growing the AP psychology program. More than 100 seniors took the course every year, simply because he taught it.
“They didn’t want to graduate from LHS without having the experience of Mr. Boulay,” said Breen.
“As a teacher, Mr. Boulay wanted young people to challenge themselves academically and strive for better. His motto was it’s not how smart you are. It’s how hard you work. He had a soft spot for the student who plodded along and stuck with it,” Breen added.
“He wanted to help students make connections between disciplines. He truly believed that students needed to be engaged working on interesting projects and presentations to their peers. He was a very creative teacher who wanted the spotlight to shine on his students and their achievements. He was real, and his students knew it and appreciated him for his honesty and bluntness.”
Jennifer Goguen, also a history teacher at LHS, couldn’t help but agree.
“Simply put, Mike was a legend. He cared about every student and every staff member at Lynnfield High School,” she said. “Mike was a wonderful teacher who used compassion, knowledge and humor to inspire his students. He was brilliant in the classroom and every one of his students would say so. He was a genuine human being who taught all of us to enjoy life.”
Boulay was the second recipient of the Dorothy Presser Award, which was founded during the 2018-2019 school year in honor of longtime school committee member Dorothy Presser upon her retirement. The award is peer-nominated, recognizing an employee within the public school community who goes above and beyond in their commitment to education in town.
Hayman recalled a conversation he had with former Lynnfield Superintendent Jane Tremblay earlier on Tuesday, in which Tremblay cited Boulay’s “fierce dedication, commitment, and passion” as the epitome of everything Lynnfield Public Schools seeks in its community.
Hayman added that Boulay’s family will be invited to accept the award on his behalf at a later date.
“LHS sorely misses him this year,” said Breen. “We desperately need him to help us laugh at this crazy situation we are all in during the pandemic. He was so reassuring to us all that whatever was troubling would be OK.”
Sometimes, it’s hard to sum up a giant in just a few words. Breen ultimately succeeded.
“He was a classic. One in a million. Unique. So kind — thoughtful of other people. Unpretentious,” she said.
“As a friend, he was the best.”
