HUCKLEBERRY HILL Music Specialist Kerrie Fraser (left) and Lynnfield High School History/Social Studies Department Head Susan Breen were recognized for receiving the Dorothy Presser Award during a recent School Committee meeting. (Kate DePrizio Photo)

 

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — A Lynnfield High School department head and a Huckleberry Hill School educator were presented with the Dorothy Presser Award during a recent School Committee meeting.

Then-School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio recalled that the award was established in 2019 in honor of longtime School Committee member Dorothy Presser. She said the peer-nominated award recognizes “a Lynnfield School District employee who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to advancing the Lynnfield Public School District.” LHS History/Social Studies Department Head Susan Breen and Huckleberry Hill School Music Specialist Kerrie Fraser were the recipients of this year’s award.

DePrizio said the individual who nominated Breen recalled that the history teacher “just started at Lynnfield High” when they were a student.

“She has been looking out for me ever since,” the nomination states. “During any encounter, she is quick to inquire and offer advice. She greets you with warmth and a smile. You cannot attend an athletic event or student function and not see Sue. She supports students in all capacities. She stepped up to coach the (girls’) basketball team when a new coach was needed. Additionally, the high school students are challenged in her Advanced Placement class and I believe it is safe to say at this point that she is a legend. She cares about the whole child.  Ask any student who has had Sue and they will quickly endorse her as a teacher who is dedicated and cares. Sue is quick to deflect credit and shies away from the spotlight, but she is an educator who makes our system what it is: A place where students feel safe, engaged and appreciated.”

Breen was honored to receive the Dorothy Presser Award.

“Thank you so much for selecting me as recipient of the Dorothy Presser Award,” said Breen. “I had both of her sons in high school. I am very appreciative to be receiving this recognition. To be very honest, I am very humbled that I was even nominated. There are so many innovative and dedicated teachers in the Lynnfield Public Schools. I am constantly impressed by the teaching and learning that occurs in classrooms on a daily basis. I am so grateful that I landed in Lynnfield back in 1993 and that I stayed. What an incredible profession. As a history teacher, coach, advisor and spectator, it has been an absolute privilege to interact with so many incredible young people at critical times in their lives. They have kept me young at heart. All of the people at Lynnfield High School have been a second family for me. Thank you for supporting and encouraging me. Thank you so much for this award.”

The meeting’s attendees gave Breen a round of applause.

DePrizio said Fraser received two nominations for the Dorothy Presser Award. The first individual who nominated Fraser said the music specialist was “so welcoming” when they first started working at Huckleberry Hill as a substitute teacher in 2021.

“I felt included and accepted by her kind words and welcoming personality,” the nomination stated. “The summer after starting to substitute, my girls and I (my girls both attended Summer Street before we moved two years ago to North Reading) were on the beach and my younger daughter started singing the ‘Hello Song’ that Mrs. Fraser is so famous for. Mrs. Fraser was on the beach that day, heard the song and stopped us. And we realized that my daughter saw her, something connected and she started singing because she learned the song on the videos Mrs. Fraser did during COVID. Mrs. Fraser has done it all, many times, with a smile on her face.”

DePrizio also read the second nomination for Fraser.

“Kerrie is talented and passionate about music, singing and teaching,” the nomination states. “She is a team player and is always looking out for the good of the students, teachers and the Huckleberry Hill School community. She is one of the most unselfish people I have ever met and is always willing to listen and hear all points of view, with the most open mind. She includes everyone and enjoys collaboration. Within her classroom, she embraces all cultures and backgrounds. She truly educates students about music from the basics of singing songs to the cultural influences of music and musicians to teaching about instruments and geography in terms of where musicians came from. She teaches students about rhythm, harmony, melody and so much more. She teaches students how to listen and how to hear these different aspects of music. She teaches students how to work collaboratively to make music and create music, playing different instruments together. When they go to music, students learn about the world around them.”

Fraser said she “felt tremendously honored and grateful” to receive the Dorothy Presser Award.

“This award is not lost on me,” said Fraser. “It is really special. I am just grateful. I love what I do. I love teaching music. I think music is a window to other countries and other cultures. Through music, we learn about the world around us. I love my staff at Huckleberry, and I feel like I am always asking them to do stuff such as learning a staff song or asking if students can have extra practice time. The staff is always so gracious because they know it is about the kids and what they are learning, what they are doing and how they are growing. I am grateful for the staff as well. Thank you so much. This feels tremendously special and I am very honored.”

The meeting’s attendees gave Fraser a round of applause.

DePrizio congratulated Breen and Fraser for receiving the Dorothy Presser Award.

“Thank you both for what you do,” said DePrizio.

Breen and Fraser are the seventh and eighth educators to receive the Dorothy Presser Award. Summer Street School second grade teacher Deb Guenard was the recipient of the 2023 award. Huckleberry Hill School third grade teacher Lindsay Driscoll and Lynnfield Middle School fifth grade teacher Tammy Tate were each presented with the 2022 Dorothy Presser Awards. Lynnfield High School English teacher Joey Puleo, late LHS Social Studies Department Head Michael Boulay and Lead Nurse/Floating Nurse Toni Rebelo have also received the award.