PITTSFIELD — Karen Lylis wanted her last days as a teacher to remain low-key.

The only hint that the Manson Park School kindergarten teacher was ending her 38-year teaching career was a homemade nametag she wore to class Wednesday noting that she has spent 6,640 days in school “with 10 left.”

The only hint that the Manson Park School kindergarten teacher was ending her 38-year teaching career was a homemade nametag she wore to class Wednesday noting that she has spent 6,640 days in school “with 10 left.”

So she was surprised to be honored at an assembly that included a note from the Legistlature, delivered by state Sen. Thomas Martin of Benton, and 80 copies of the “Critters of Maine” paperback from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

“This is wonderful,” Lylis said. “I love spending time outdoors watching wildlife and sharing my experiences with the youngsters. This is a perfect gift.”

The books were the first installment of three, said Kristie Emery, who has worked with Lylis for the past 11 years. “Cianbro Corporation traditionally honors retiring teachers with a gift, and of course we all wanted to chip in as well,” Emery said.

But Lylis didn’t want anything for herself, and asked that any contributions that for a retirement party be used to buy the book, one of her favorites, for all the students at Manson Park.

So Cianbro, in cooperation with Martin, who is the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, made arrangements to get enough “Critters of Maine” for this year’s kindergarten classes as well as the next two classes. That’s more than 300 books total.

Emery credited Lylis for her accomplishments over the years, including helping her school “exceed literacy expectations for 5-year-olds.”

“She is the reason we have informative report cards (and) special bulletin boards with themes that honor the Human Society and veterans,” Emery said. “Often, we don’t realize until the following year how valuable our colleague was.”

Emery added, “She’s not our glue — she’s our Super Glue.”

Lylis, 60, graduated from Bridgewater (Mass.) State College in 1974 and spent two years as a resource room teacher in Sterling, Mass., before moving to Maine.

She was a Title 1 teacher associate at Newport Elementary School, a third and fourth grade teacher at Harmony Elementary School, a mental health specialist at the developmental disabilities support group Sebasticook Farms in St. Albans and a resource room and first grade teacher at St. Albans and Palmyra elementary schools before accepting a position at Manson Park School in 1991.

She co-wrote the Developmental Guide to Early Literacy and Student Sample Booklet for Writing for the Maine Department of Education and was the co-recipient of the Maine Reading Association’s Literacy Award in 1993.

In addition to watching critters, Lylis said she enjoys cross-country skiing, knitting, reading and gardening.

 

Copy the Story Link