For more than 30 years, Parkway Elementary School teacher Linda Porco has taught in the same classroom. Since 1978, she has seen generations of second-grade students come and go. Next year will be the first time in 36 years someone other than Porco will be teaching in her room.
Before sailing off into retirement, Porco and 32 of her colleagues were recognized one more time at last night’s Mt. Laurel Board of Education meeting.
The school district held an awards ceremony for 33 retiring staff members and 11 members celebrating 25 years of work in Mt. Laurel schools. The ceremony was held at the beginning of the Board of Education meeting, with a reception held prior to the ceremony. Administrators and board members made their way around the gym and personally thanked each honoree for their service to the district.
Tuesday’s ceremony was a culmination of a long but enjoyable career for Porco. She said she was very happy after the ceremony, but will miss her students when classes end next week.
“I’ll miss laughing with the kids,” she said. “Being able to laugh with them every single day.”
Porco’s career has motivated more than just her students. Both of her sons are also teachers. Joseph Porco is a history and economics teacher at Lenape High School, while Jonathan Porco is a music teacher and marching band director at Absegami High School.
Another person who touched Mt. Laurel students from a young age is Larchmont kindergarten teacher Karen Beatty. Beatty came to Larchmont in 1990 after serving as a kindergarten aide and basic skills teacher the previous two years. She said she is able to leave the school on a happy note.
“I have a grandchild now,” Beatty said with a smile. “I am looking forward to doing a lot with my family.”
Beatty won an award in 2005 for creating an original lesson for Activboard, an interactive, virtual version of a blackboard. As a result of winning the award, Beatty traveled to England for the International Research Summit to observe Activboard instruction overseas.
Despite this accomplishment, Beatty said her fellow colleagues is what she’ll remember most about her time at Larchmont.
“I’m really going to miss the people I work with,” she said.
The sense of community within the staff was apparent at the ceremony. Teachers from different schools engaged in conversation prior to the event and loudly applauded each honoree as they were called up for their award. All retiring staff members received a small trophy, while staff members celebrating 25 years received a plaque.
Superintendent Antoinette Rath said it is not enough to just read the names of the retirees during the Board of Education meeting and thank them for their service. She stated the importance of honoring each member individually and giving them a small gift.
For Porco, the ceremony is something she will remember forever.
“It was a wonderful tribute for all of the teachers,” she said.
