THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE presented LMS fifth grade teacher Tammy Tate (second from left) and Huckleberry Hill School third grade teacher Lindsay Driscoll (at right) with the Dorothy Presser Award on Sept. 27. From left, School Committee Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt, Tate, Superintendent Kristen Vogel and Driscoll. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Hard work pays off.
The School Committee presented two teachers with the Dorothy Presser Award during a Sept. 27 meeting. School Committee Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt recalled that the award was established in 2019 in honor of longtime School Committee member Dorothy Presser.
“The School Committee created the Dorothy Presser Award in honor of her dedication to the Lynnfield Public Schools during her 21 years serving on the School Committee,” said Dahlstedt. “This peer-nominated award recognizes a Lynnfield School District employee who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to advancing the Lynnfield Public School District as well as their commitment to every student.”
Dahlstedt said this year’s winners of the peer-nominated award are Huckleberry Hill School third grade teacher Lindsay Driscoll and Lynnfield Middle School fifth grade teacher Tammy Tate.
“Tammy and Lindsay were nominated by their peers,” said Dahlstedt. “The School Committee is appreciative that so many took the time to write incredible nominations for their peers, and we would like to congratulate all who were nominated. The number of nominations we received is a true reflection of the Lynnfield Public Schools community as a whole.”
Lynnfield Middle School fifth grade teacher Patricia Hazelton nominated fifth grade teacher Tammy Tate for the Dorothy Presser Award.
“I have worked with Tammy for more than a decade, and she is unbelievable,” Hazelton stated in a letter sent to the School Committee. “She is dedicated, hardworking and loves the kids. I cannot tell you how wonderful she is to work with, and I think she is one of the unsung heroes of our school.”
Hazelton said Tate goes above and beyond to support students and teachers.
“Oftentimes when I am staying late after school, Tammy is there,” Hazelton wrote. “Her car is the last to leave the parking lot and one of the first to arrive. All this time spent preparing shows in her classroom teaching. She truly exemplifies the craft of instruction. She works endlessly to ensure her lesson reaches many learners, and is well received. She is a teammate to all of us. She integrates new ideas and is the first to embrace any type of fun, especially when it comes to our students. You ask her to switch recess duty, she will say sure. You ask her to help you navigate new technology, she will say sure. You ask her to brainstorm some strategies for a student, she will say sure. Not only do our teachers appreciate her, but our students in her class receive a level of education that is unmatched.”
School Finance Director Tom Geary nominated Huckleberry Hill School third grade teacher Lindsay Driscoll for the Dorothy Presser Award. He recalled in a letter that Huckleberry Hill has had a co-taught classroom that integrates general education and special education students. He said Driscoll taught the classroom last year along with two substitutes who filled in for a special education teacher who was out on leave.
“The one constant in the classroom was Lindsay,” said Geary. “She made sure that every student in this diverse learning environment received the differentiated education they deserved as she led the learning, and, from the outside, made it look seamless. She was tireless in her efforts and a fierce advocate for all students, whether working with academic or social-emotional challenges. She did this while also leading and mentoring a very inexperienced, first-time substitute teacher for several months and managing multiple paraprofessionals in the classroom.”
Geary said Driscoll “went above and beyond with her efforts.”
“I would love to see those efforts recognized,” said Geary. “She raised her hand and volunteered to take on this professionally challenging differentiated classroom setup for the year, which is difficult enough, without knowing all of the moving parts that she would unexpectedly have to navigate. This type of educational leadership, professional risk-taking, compassion and effort on behalf of the students and the district is the embodiment of this award.”
After Dahlstedt gave an overview of Tate and Driscoll’s accomplishments, both women were given a round of applause.
Driscoll thanked the school board for presenting her with the Dorothy Presser Award in a letter she sent to the committee and forwarded to the Villager.
“It is such an honor to be one of the recipients of this year’s Dorothy Presser Award,” Driscoll stated. “Having worked for 12 years surrounded by educators and administrators who go above and beyond every day, I humbly realize how lucky I am to be one of the few to get this degree of recognition. No successful, impactful teacher is an island, and I am grateful for the support of an amazing third grade team, the Huckleberry Hill School special educators and Principal Melissa Wyland. Their thoughtful ideas and wise advice have been vital to navigating some of the challenges of the past year. As a proud graduate of the Lynnfield school system, I have had many amazing educators. I clearly remember educators who took extra time to get to know me beyond academics. These teachers modeled what it means to be an effective, passionate educator who takes a genuine interest in the growth and well-being of his or her students. I continue to strive to be that teacher for my third-graders.”
Tate echoed Driscoll’s viewpoint.
“Receiving the Dorothy Presser Award is humbling,” said Tate in an email sent to the Villager. “I am honored to accept the award on behalf of all Lynnfield teachers and staff; we passionately dedicate our lives to children. Lynnfield attracts thoughtful, hard-working educators, and I am blessed to work alongside such assiduous professionals. Our schools prioritize academics as well as emotional intelligence. How rewarding, as a science teacher, to watch my students become passionate mini-scientists who care about Earth and are eager to learn about their place in this awesome world. Even more inspiring is fostering relationships that students build with teachers, peers and even their environment. Thank you to the Lynnfield community for sharing your children with me; I cherish the relationships I have built and enjoy seeing them grow into such fine young adults.”
Driscoll and Tate are the fifth educators to receive the Dorothy Presser Award. Lynnfield High School English teacher Joey Puleo, late LHS Social Studies Department Michael Boulay and Nurse Coordinator Toni Rebelo have also won the award.
