Salem Education Association: Thank You, Retiring Teachers

The Salem Education Association would like to acknowledge all of the dedicated educators who are retiring from the Salem School district this year and thank them for their years of service to the children and families of Salem.

The following teachers reflected on their careers and indicated what lies ahead for them in the next chapter of their lives. We know the entire Salem community joins us in wishing them all the best during their retirements!

Roberta (Bobby) Nelson is ending her 41 year teaching career at Woodbury Middle School. Her favorite teaching memories were the many wonderful trips she took with her students to Environmental School and she will miss sharing her love of young adult novels with her students. She will also miss her colleagues, many of whom will remain lifelong friends. She says her future plans are not yet determined but she thinks endless summer would be nice.

Marcia Larason is leaving the Woodbury Middle School after having taught for 32 years total. She doesn’t have just one special memory but she recalls all the moments when she was able to connect with and get through to a struggling student who finally has the “ah-ha” moment when they were able to understand a difficult topic. She also recalls helping students with the non-academic strides that will make a difference for the rest of their lives. She will miss the kids the most in her retirement. Her future plans are best described as an adventure of a lifetime. She and her husband have been restoring a 49 foot hylas sailboat and they plan on sailing and visiting the world! Their first voyage will be to the Carribean and future trips may possibly include South America, the Panama Canal, Galapagos Islands, and/or French Polynesia.

Bonnie Saulnier has been an educator for 23 years and she will be leaving Salem High School after spending 21 years in our district. Her special teaching memory was founding and working with her students as the Salem High School Humane Society. She and her students volunteered at the SARL and the MSPCA. She says what she will miss most about the teaching profession is the vacations and her future plans are to move to Arizona.

Ann Jennison is retiring from Salem High School after teaching Social Studies for 15 years. She previously taught history at UNH, UNH Manchester, and Granite State College. She says it wasn’t possible to narrow down to one special teaching moment as you just never know how what you do every day is going to impact a high school student in the long run. Therefore, her favorite memories have come from the times when students who have graduated years before reach out to her to let her know how they are doing and what they’re doing with the knowledge they gained from her teaching. Those moments, she says, are priceless. She will miss the daily contact with her colleagues whom she describes as an amazing group of smart, savvy, caring, and professional educators. She will be keeping very busy in her retirement doing audiobook narration for published authors, giving Native American Storytelling performances, finishing the five novels she’s been writing, and doing historical/genealogical research and writing. Also, just for fun, she is building a garden railroad with a 1930’s New Hampshire farm theme with her husband.

Frank Stewart has been a guidance counselor at Barron Elementary School for the past 17 years but he’s been working in the district for 23 years. In addition, he’s been in the counseling field for well over 30 years. Frank recalls a special teaching moment that occurred in a first grade classroom. He was giving a guidance lesson involving the use of puppets as a teaching tool. After the class, one young student approached him and asked what else he did besides counseling. When Frank inquired as to why he wanted to know, the student asked, “Do you have a real job?” What Frank will miss the most will be the many opportunities to influence young lives in a positive way as helping kids be the best they can be is very rewarding. He will also miss the daily interaction with colleagues and working on a team, whether it be to solve a problem or to work on a creative project. Frank’s future plans include some fun activities as well as future career plans but he hopes he can find a way to combine both. He’ll do a good share of traveling, reading, and learning new skills. Some of his interests include technology, high fidelity sound, and working around the house. But he also derives satisfaction from being of service to others. He doesn’t know exactly what that will be but he’ll take some time to reflect on it.

Susan Lilydale is retiring after 34 years at Salem High School and 35 years as an educator. Her fondest memories are coaching winter track and chaperoning a trip to Cancun Mexico with 25 high school students. She states she will miss her fellow teachers the most, especially Bob Carpinone. Her future plans are to teach aerobics and possibly do some tutoring at the college level.

Janet Mulligan is retiring after 30 years in the Salem School district. She began teaching first grade at the Lancaster Elementary School and has taught first as well as fourth grade at the Walter F. Haigh Elementary School. Without a doubt, she states watching children make personal and academic growth has been the most rewarding moments of her career. “There is really nothing like seeing the joy on a child’s face when that child has mastered a concept and can explain it to others.” She will miss the daily experience of seeing the world from a child’s point of view. She will also miss the camaraderie she has enjoyed with her colleagues and friends in Salem. She states that we are truly blessed as Salem is a wonderful place with wonderful educators and families. Retirement will mean traveling the globe with her husband and having more time to spend with family and friends. Although it will be difficult for her to leave her friends and colleagues, she is eager to embark on this new and exciting journey.