LYNNFIELD — Educators with more than 300 years of combined experience were honored by the School Committee Tuesday.
Ten teachers and staff members from Lynnfield Public Schools are set to retire at the end of the school year.
“Lynnfield is such a special place where we all know that our teachers and staff go above and beyond every day,” School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg said during the meeting. “It’s hard to see you go.”
One of the honored retirees was Lynnfield High School Principal Robert Cleary, who has worked at the school for more than 30 years.
“The kids that benefit from attending Lynnfield High School have had the benefits of your presence, your personality, and your tutelage,” Sjorberg said, addressing Cleary. “It is going to be sorely, sorely missed.”
Cleary had been Lynnfield High’s principal since 2008, having previously worked as the school’s assistant principal. Cleary had also previously served as the school’s volleyball and softball coach.
Cleary credited the school’s students, staff, and community with his success.
“It’s pretty easy to be a good principal when you’ve got great kids and a community that supports what you do,” Cleary said.
Cleary said given how busy his job can be, he hasn’t had too much time to reflect on his 30 years as an educator. However, he said last week’s graduation, his last, was when the emotions hit him.
Though he’s unsure about what is next, Cleary said he was looking forward to being able to relax in retirement and spend time with his family, including his wife and two daughters.
“I’ve just spent 30 years devoting an awful lot of time to everyone else’s families,” Cleary said. “It’ll be nice to be able to spend some and sort of make up some time with my family.”
Cleary said he is confident that he’ll settle into retirement well, but has heeded the warnings from others about how he’ll feel when the next school year starts in the fall.
“Everybody says that’s when it hits you,” he said.
The other honored retiring Lynnfield teachers and staff members were Andrea DiStefano, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School kitchen manager and cook; Camille Ernest, Office of Student Services secretary; Lisa Giacalone, Lynnfield High School world-language teacher; Maria Goodwin, Lynnfield Middle School Guidance Office secretary; Laurie Jameson, Summer Street Elementary School paraprofessional; Heidi Johnson, Lynnfield Middle School mathematics teacher; Carol O’Shea, Lynnfield Middle School sixth-grade special-education teacher; Jayne Swirka, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School kindergarten teacher; and Cheryl Welsh, Summer Street Elementary School third-grade teacher.
