Maryanne Connolly, known as the “Popcorn Lady” for many years, is retiring from Narragansett Elementary School as the teacher of the K-5 Functional Life Skills Program, after teaching in that position for 25 years.

Twenty-four of those years have been at Narragansett with one year at Village when the K-5 configuration first started, before the program was moved back to Narragansett. Originally, it was a 1-2 Multi-age Inclusion Program, but grade levels have changed over the years. She worked at Spurwink School for 15 years prior to the transition to Gorham.

Connolly graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 1978 with a B.S. in special education with a concentration in emotional disturbance. She then received her M.Ed. in 1987 from USM with a degree in exceptionality.

Watching a child be able to believe in him- or herself and achieve something they have been working on and seeing the pride in their accomplishment has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career. It could be walking down the hall independently, doing the monkey bars on the playground, or asking for help before they have a problem and working it out on their own.

She will miss the students, the families, and her colleagues. Working with children is why she got into the profession; the relationships with the families and colleagues is a bonus.

In retirement, the first thing she may have to get used to is the transition off of a school schedule since she has been on that schedule since she was in first grade. Her plans include being with her family (no more paperwork Sundays), volunteering in the schools with her grandchildren and in Gorham, and volunteering on the Barbara Bush unit or rocking the babies in the nursery at the hospital, taking care of herself, and lots of knitting and relaxing for a bit.

Michelle Lesperance is retiring as a first-grade teacher at Great Falls Elementary School, after teaching in Gorham for the past 16 years. She first fell in love with teaching back in high school (1975) when she was working in a Montessori preschool and fell in love with teaching. She loved watching the discovery process and still does.

Her travels took many turns before she graduated with a double major: special education and early elementary education from Michigan State University. She was a Bell Telephone directory/information operator (no computers back then), an assembly line worker putting together cars (Detroit girl), and a live-in governess (with a blue starched uniform) right here in Maine (among other jobs) before she finally got her degree in 1982.

Since 1982, she has worked in a few different districts in Maine, as well as at a private school. But the common thread, no matter what educational body, is the K-2 setting. This is where she believes learning to read, reading to discover, learning to write, and finding a voice truly begins. It is the foundation for literacy and also where she found a place that nourished her appetite for the discovery process, as well as her passion/obsession for multidisciplinary teaching practices.

The years at Great Falls was among the best ever in her career. Because of the kind support and humor from many, she never felt like her “last years as an educator” felt like a job; it remained a career and a place she continued to grow and learn. She would like people to know that this strength, dedication, humor and grace matters. It creates a place where kids thrive, but that exists in many elementary schools because most teachers are strong and dedicated. It is the kindness, humor, and grace that create a thriving culture that kids and staff can thrive. She would like to thank everyone who truly shower these qualities on others.

As of right now, Lesperance plans to volunteer at Hospice and an elementary school and maybe a part-time job in a bookstore to supplement her travel account. She is saving for that bucket list and one of those spots is Tasmania.

She wishes heartfelt best wishes and blessings to all to keep the torch of inquiry burning.

Robert Riley is retiring as principal of Gorham Middle School, a position he held for the past 12 years. Prior to his time in Gorham, he spent six years in MSAD #49 in Fairfield, Maine. For four years, he was the assistant principal and athletic director for Lawrence Junior High School. His final two years at Lawrence were as principal. Prior to that, he taught social studies at Saco Middle School for seven years.

He received his Bachelors from the University of New England and his Masters in Ed Administration from USM.

Riley has most enjoyed working with, and teaching young people. He will miss the daily interaction with the students as he could actually see them change daily. To have the privilege of being able to witness their growth, and to have a hand in helping them shape their future, was very rewarding.

His immediate plans are to travel to see his three grandchildren and spend some good quality time with them.

Kate Rotroff is retiring as Gorham’s Adult Education director, a position she’s held for 20 years. For the past two years she has also been director in Westbrook.

Before coming to Gorham, she worked for 11 years as an education specialist in the rehab department at Maine Medical Center. She was tasked with training special education teachers how to develop supported employment opportunities for students with disabilities. She worked with teachers in Cumberland, Aroostook, and Washington counties. She also worked as a senior human services counselor at Youth Opportunities in Portland for nine years.

Rotroff has a M.S. in adult education and a B.A. in history.

Without question, the best part of her job has always been the direct work she has done with learners. She has especially enjoyed learning about different cultures from the English Language Learners. She will miss her co-workers and the students.

In retirement, she will continue to work in some way with English Language Learners. She also plans to travel and enjoy her gardens. And she would like to find a way not to hibernate in the winter.

Anne Stuart is retiring from Village Elementary School after teaching third grade for the past seven years. Before that, she taught first grade at Narragansett School for 15 years and one year at Village when it went K-5. Before becoming a classroom teacher, she was an ed tech for two years at Narragansett.

She has had the opportunity to hold a variety of positions while working in the district. She hosted many ETEP interns and other student teachers, has been a team leader for many years, participated in a variety of curriculum committees, has been a peer mentor to new teachers, hosted high school alt ed programs in her first-grade classroom, and hosted a literacy-based program with alt ed high schoolers with her third graders.

She has also served on interview committees to hire new teachers/ admins in the district and worked on assessments committees. She is a strong supporter of the Gorham Teachers Association (GTA), having been her school’s rep for many years and has also participated in negotiating the GTA teacher’s contract several times.

Stuart received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USM. The most rewarding part has been the teaching. She has had the privilege to work with hundreds of Gorham’s children over the years, and it is not always what she taught them, but what they taught her. Being a teacher has been an incredible life experience for her.

She has also worked with many talented teachers and admins that have mentored her whether they know it or not. She has always loved going to work each morning in anticipation of what the new day will bring, some days were better than others but each one meaningful in its own way. She feels Gorham has wonderfully supportive and caring parents and she has been lucky to work with many of them.

As for retirement, her grandboys and her almost 11-year-old son will keep her very busy. As a former foster parent and having adopted a child from the foster care system, she would like to become an advocate to promote positive change in the foster care system. She is also planning on substituting to get her teacher’s fix.

Note: Photos of Riley and Stuart not provided to the Gorham Times.