Retiring SAD 29 employees ‘file final lesson plans’

The end of the school year has brought an end to the careers of several well-seasoned educators in SAD 29. These retirees are leaving with an average of 35 years in education and most all of it spent in the local district.
Those leaving are, Wellington School teaching-principal, Nancy Wright; first-grade teacher, Beverly Nason and third-grade teacher, Alfreda Powers from Houlton Elementary School; David Sewell, fifth-grade math and science teacher at Southside School; Michael Powers, a member of the Houlton High School history department; high school nurse, Audrey York; and Eugene Jewell, custodian/bus driver at Houlton Elementary School.
All of the retirees are alumni of Houlton High School except one, Alfreda Powers and the educators are alumni of the University of Maine in Presque Isle, except York who received her nursing degree from Maine Medical Center and her BS in sociology from Ricker College.
Nason earned her elementary degree in 1973 and was hired as a second-grade teacher. She taught for two years before choosing to be a full-time mother to daughter, Jana.
Nason returned to the district in 1978, as a title I tutor and then worked in the migratory program. In 1981 she took a third-grade classroom for a couple of years before a first-grade assignment she has held for more than 25 years, completing a career of 36 years in all.
Nason has experienced many changes at the elementary school, beginning there just after its opening as a model “open format” school with no inside walls or doors between classrooms.
After a dozen years of testing the waters, the school underwent major renovations that created individual rooms that are in place today.
As she looks back over her career Nason noted that other than teaching in an open classroom, technology has made the greatest impact, first with computers, then Palm Pilots to record test scores and grades to the Smartboard that connects classroom lessons to the latest information available. These are great interactive tools that assist the teacher in keeping the student’s attention in the high tech world of today.
Alfreda (Freddy) Powers, a native of Bath, met her husband, Mike Powers at UMPI where they both received their degrees in 1974. That fall, after their wedding, Freddy was hired as an elementary teacher at Hodgdon Elementary School, remaining in the district for 11 years.
In the mid-‘80s she was hired for a third-grade position at Wellington School in Monticello. She later taught a multi-age classroom, before moving into a third-grade opening at Houlton Elementary School, teaching for a total of 37 years.
Her husband Mike, accepted a contract from SAD 29 in December of 1974. He recalled being hired by the late Superintendent Hamilton Giberson by way of a phone call. Supt. Giberson called to see if he might be interested in a junior high job. A teacher was leaving before Christmas and needed to be replaced.
At the time Mike was an assistant manager at a local grocery store earning approximately $13,000. His desire to teach overruled his money sense when he signed the school contract for $6,700.    Mike has never regretted his decision.
Powers taught seventh and eighth grade at the junior high level until 1979 when he moved to Littleton Elementary School teaching fifth- and sixth-grade math and science. In the fall of ’90 he became the teaching principal remaining in that capacity until 1996.
He then returned to Houlton Jr./Sr. High School teaching world history, economics, psychology, sociology and U.S. government.
Powers was also a member of the “painting teachers,” a group of educators who painted many houses in the area during summer and harvest vacations. He has been active in school affairs, including being president of the Houlton Teachers’ Association and chief negotiator. He has held a variety of offices with the Houlton Lodge of Elks as well as being state president of the Elks from 2009-10. During that year Mike and his wife traveled all over the country for a variety of events. He is now an advisor to the state Elks group.
Powers has wonderful memories of his career and wouldn’t change anything about it. He commented on his admiration for the late principal Elwood Scott, and mentors in his department, including Sally Burlock and the late Harriet Dunn.
“They gave me confidence that I could do this, when I was just a few years older than my students when I first started out,” said Mike.
He also has fond memories of his years in Littleton.
“The people of Littleton embraced me and supported me during my 15 years at the school,” he said.  “The school and community became very dear to my heart.”
Mike and his wife have two grown sons, Michael Jr. and Matthew. They are looking forward to spending more time camping this summer and whatever comes their way after that.
David Sewell, another member of the “painting teachers,” grew up in Littleton and was a member of the first seventh-grade class to enter the new Houlton Jr./Sr. High School in the fall of 1965. He traveled to UMPI with his sights set on being a physical education teacher, but shortly after spending time in an elementary classroom in Mapleton, he changed his mind and pursued an elementary degree. He has never looked back.
Sewell signed his first contract as a sixth-grade math teacher at Lambert School, which is now the Greater Houlton Christian Academy. A year after his hiring he replaced Barbara Burton a fifth-grade teacher who took the teaching principal position. He is retiring with 34 years in that capacity.
Sewell enjoyed the “old” Lambert School, but also feels fortunate to have moved into Southside School when it was brand new. He gets excited when he talks about the technology available for teachers in the classroom. He also has enjoyed planning lessons using the new Smartboard and feels this is a great feature to keep students interested in learning in the classroom.
Even on an extremely warm day when this interview took place, Sewell shared his special math lesson that peaked the interest of the students. Although some of the new mandates seem “a bit overwhelming” and he feels there is way too much testing, he accepts the way it is, hoping there is a reason for all things.
During his teaching career, Sewell also coached the Houlton High School girls softball team for 20 years, winning a state title in 1982 was the official time keeper at both girls and boys varsity basketball games for the same number of years.
As Sewell leaves his classroom he looks forward to what lies ahead. He and his wife Susan have two grown sons, Joe and Brad and will enjoy more time with their three grandsons. He also plans to assist his wife, with her daycare business.
Audrey York’s has had an interesting journey in SAD 29. With a three-year degree from Maine Medical Center in nursing, she completed another course from McGill University to secure a certificate as a public health nurse. Then she completed a B.S in sociology from Ricker College, with a second degree in vocational education in the nursing area from the University of Southern Maine.
However, when she joined the school department in 1979 she was a substitute for the art teacher. York had always had a talent for art and had taught classes at the local adult education program. Her substituting turned into a long-term job and she became the full-time art instructor for the high school until 1986.
York then turned in the art supplies for the medical supplies when the late Barbara Rogers, the district’s school nurse retired. She covered all the schools in the district, including Wellington, Littleton, Lambert School, HES and the high school. This was a busy time for this mother of three daughters — Susan, Diane and Jody.
Since 1999 she has been responsible for only the high school and Monticello, when a second nurse was employed for HES and Southside.
York, known for her colorful, eye-catching earrings, said that her whimsical accessories started out as an ice-breaker for the little ones who were often afraid of someone in a white coat. Probably the fear that a shot may be coming! They have since become her signature piece.
York said that every day is different and that she is never bored.
“I have loved my job, and it is hard to let it go, but at a young 71, I am looking forward to spending time with my two granddaughters who live in Brewer and doing lots of craft projects.” said York.
She is also an officer in the Eastern Star and will continue her involvement with the Vital Pathways organization that has supported many projects in the Houlton community.
Eugene ‘Butch’ Jewell, a custodian for 36 and one half years has ultimately been a “fixture” at Houlton Elementary School since 1974. He spent the first year and a half at the bus garage before moving into a janitorial position at the school. He also served as a bus driver the first nine years in addition to his custodial duties.
Jewell has worked under all the principals of the school including, Jay Brewer, the late Bev Clark, Robert Cowperthwaite and the current principal, Candace Crane. Although much in his job description has remained the same, he has witnessed the open-school concept and the major construction project to build the separate classrooms. Jewell has dealt with the problems of the original sliding glass doors in each classroom and a flat roof with all of its drawbacks, wall-to-wall carpeting throughout the school to the replacement with tile. Jewell knows a lot about cleaning solutions and what works and what doesn’t. Whether he has a preference of “green” or the standard product, he’s not saying.
He is looking forward to fishing and hunting and plans to be a substitute bus driver in the fall. Jewell may also try his hand at other jobs, whatever may come his way.
Jewell always had a smile on his face and the students loved his friendly and caring ways.
Wellington’s teaching principal, Nancy Wright is also retiring with 33 years in education. A special article on her retirement was featured in the June 1 issue of the Houlton Pioneer Times.
Retiring members of the district were honored by the Houlton Teachers’ Association at the Houlton Community Golf Course and received commemorative gifts from the association and the SAD 29 district, as well as being recognized by their individual schools.