Matthew Thornton's Mack Will be Missed

“I have the most wonderful job in the world,” said Carol Mack, principal of Matthew Thornton Elementary School.

But, she will be retiring from her post come June after 25 years in the Londonderry School District.

“I’m having a terrible time separating,” she said by phone on Friday.

Mack is leaving her beloved post because her three children are putting her into another equally important role – grandmother.

“My son and his wife had a daughter last year,” she said. “Then my daughter had a girl in January.”

Another daughter is expecting twins in August.

“That sealed the decision for me,” Mack said. She sent out a letter to her students’ parents last week letting them know of her retirement so the parents would have time to gently break it to their children.

“I had a group of third-graders helping me on a project (last) week,” Mack said. “They asked me why I was leaving and I asked them what they would do if they had to take care of 560 children in a school, or have four new grandchildren to care for.”

One of the 8 year olds replied, “You’re making the right decision, Mrs. Mack.”

Mack has been involved in education since she became a volunteer at Matthew Thornton in 1983 when her son was a student.

She soon became a teaching assistant and went back to school for a master's degree in education. She did her student teaching at Matthew Thornton.

After a stint of substitute teaching, she was a first grade teacher for seven years and moved up to assistant principal.

In 2002, Mack was named Assistant Principal of the Year by the New Hampshire Principals Association. After taking administrative classes at Rivier College in Nashua, she became principal in 2004.

That came with her own parking spot, but it was noticed during the winter months that the spot was often empty. That’s because Mack liked to cross-country ski to school through the apple orchards from her farmhouse on Mammoth Road, where she lives with her husband Andy Mack Jr.

In 2010, Mack was named grand marshal of the Old Home Day parade, recognizing her contributions to the school district.

Mack’s favorite memory over the years is waving goodbye each afternoon as the school buses pull out of the parking lot.

“A friend once told me that when her son was in first grade, he waved to the bus as it pulled away and no one waved back,” she said. “I’ve been doing this every day since I was assistant principal. I let the children know they are important.”

She also recognizes each student’s birthday by calling them to her office and blowing bubbles while singing “Happy Birthday” to them.

Mack is not in her office much, however. She enjoys a hands-on approach, visiting classrooms and being available to teachers and students alike.

She will be missed, though.

“Carol has been an outstanding educator, education leader, assistant principal and principal at Matthew Thornton,” Superintendent Nate Greenberg said.

“We are going to miss her leadership and bubbly personality,” he said. “But we wish her all the best and hope she immensely enjoys her time with her grandchildren.”