Berry

2016 Legacy Project

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• published: 15 Jun 2016
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The 2016 Legacy Project celebrates the retirement of eight Winnacunnet employees: Jill Berry (Art), Bruce Demaine (IT), Linda Evans (Special Ed), Jamie Marston (Curriculum), Corinne Martin (Facilities), Steve Piro (Special Ed), Dennis Theiriault (Facilities), and Linda Varney (Art). June 2016 In 2014, as a professional development project, this question was posed: When it comes to teaching, what really matters? The project set out to learn from the cumulative experience of eight veteran teachers who were about to retire. The goal was to preserve their expertise and experience so that we who remain at Winnacunnet could learn from our “teaching ancestors” and so their knowledge could remain in the community. As the third year of the Winnacunnet Legacy Project draws to a close, the process remains the same: the retirees, through interviews, bestow their wisdom while the current faculty and staff give back to the retirees through a simple yet powerful gift of words. In the wise words of two former Winnacunnet retirees, “Closure is important in life as we go from one phase or era of our life to another” (Kris Oswald, Science) and “Goodbyes connect your past to your future. So we want to go about our goodbyes in the right way.” (Doran Morford, College Counselor). Though we can feel reluctant to acknowledge that we are indeed saying goodbye, we know that there is great value in doing so--and it matters that we do it well. From the beginning, this year’s Legacy Project resonated with a different tone. In their personal narratives, retirees spoke of larger cultural events and how those shaped their time at Winnacunnet. In particular, the evolution in the education and civil rights of students with disabilities and how these dramatic shifts manifested in the physical renovations of the building served as a backdrop upon which this year’s story is told. Whereas in past years, when retirees primarily stemmed from traditional teaching staff, the majority of the 2016 retirees have long been woven into the infrastructure of the Winnacunnet community, often in ways unseen--Information Technology, Guidance, Curriculum, Special Education, and Facilities. Through the interview process, a larger theme began to emerge in which the oral and visual history of the facility itself became a character, and we bear witness to the refining of Winnacunnet as it becomes more accessible, connected, and beautiful for all students. This year’s project layers the unique voices of each of these esteemed colleagues as their particular perspective shapes the dynamic interplay between the ever-shifting national pedagogy of education, this beloved place where students come to learn, the integral support staff who actually make the school run every day, and the creative teaching staff who do the daily work of modeling the art of vibrant living and learning for our students. We didn’t ask the question ”Why are you proud to be part of Winnacunnet?” But, eight different voices expressed in a unified voice, “ We love this place.” Jill, Bruce, Linda E., Jamie, Corinne, Steve, Dennis, and Linda V., we thank you for your love of Winnacunnet High School. And finally, we dedicate this year’s Legacy Project to all who have walked these halls, devoting the threads of their lives in service to the tapestry of Winnacunnet Warriors for the past, the present, and the future. Sincerely, Christine Edgar and Talley Westerberg