by Bea Peterson
Tears flowed freely at St. Mary’s Academy on Friday, June 17, when students, staff and parents honored third grade teacher Linda McGuire, who is retiring after 38 years. Some of the fifth grade students who led the morning prayer service recognizing their beloved teacher found it hard to read their essays without some meltdown. Mrs. McGuire herself came into the gym and sat through the program with tear filled eyes. Fellow teacher David Bromirski said, “She has touched their hearts in thousands of ways over the years. And she found countless ways during that time to show us God’s love in us.”
Linda McGuire graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1968. She graduated from SUNY Plattsburg and returned to her Alma Mater to teach. At that time classes were still in the old building on the corner of High and Classic Streets. Her mother, husband and two daughters also graduated from SMA.
This year is memorable for Linda not only as her last year but as the year she had imaginative buckets around the room to catch water from the leaking roof!
During the early morning prayer service Rensselaer County Legislator Lester Goodermote presented Linda with a proclamation from the Legislature commending her for her years of dedication to the school and community. Goodermote said, “I have known Linda all my life. We raised our kids together. She is a cornerstone of the school, and she is held in high esteem in the community.” He said she has served on every school committee and was the Walmart teacher of the year in 2002 and received a second teacher award in 2010.
SMA Board President Margaret Restino presented Linda with flowers. Each of her students handed her a rose. Admired, respected and loved, she will be sorely missed at the school.