Popular Monticello principal retires

Nancy Wright ends 33-year run in education system
By Karen Donato
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
    It was all about Nancy Wright on May 21 at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, when more than 125 friends, family and colleagues marked her retirement as teaching principal at Wellington School in Monticello. She is an alumnus of Houlton High School, the University of Maine in Presque Isle and has been in education 33 years.
    Following her marriage to Dana Wright in 1972, Nancy began her teaching career in a small school in Smyrna Mills. She shared the building with one other teacher. There was no hot lunch program and she taught her own music and physical education. Her salary was $5,200.
Photo by Karen Donato
WELCOME HOME — Friends, family and colleagues gathered at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum to honor Nancy Wright, teaching principal at Wellington School in Monticello. Virginia Urbanek, right, a member of the Wellington staff presented her with an oil painting of Wright’s home. The painting was done by Frank Sullivan of Littleton and given to her by invited guests. The painting was entitled “Welcome Home.” Wellington’s kindergarten teacher, Susan McMann is in the background. Wright is retiring after 33 years in education.
    The next year she taught in Crystal. At the end of the year she left her teaching career to become a full-time mother to sons, Ryan and Jonathan. When her youngest began kindergarten in 1981, Wright began substitute teaching, followed by a tutorial position. She moved on to a half-time kindergarten position in 1983 and in 2000 began teaching a multi-age class, for grades one and two. In 2003 she taught just first grade, adding the duties of principal in 2005.
    Wright begins every school year with her students emphasizing self-image. Each child soon learns that an “I can’t”, can always be turned into an “I can.” Cooperation is another important characteristic that Wright’s students demonstrate throughout the year. These concepts learned early will carry into adulthood.
    Wright also stresses empathy in her classroom. Her children learn to “put themselves in someone else’s shoes”; they learn to look out for each other and support each other.
Photo by Karen Donato
SHARING MEMORIES — Both Debbie Melvin, left and Jan Martin, right, taught at Wellington School with retiring teaching principal Nancy Wright, center, before moving on to Houlton Elementary School. More than 125 guests attended the retirement celebration.
    While at Wellington School, Wright not only focused on learning in the classroom, but created activities to promote a well-rounded individual. She promoted an after-school walking club for students in the fall and spring, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Wright and her students plant a school garden every year and the produce from their harvest has been used in the school’s hot lunch program.
    During her career she received numerous “Teacher of the Year” awards. Those recognizing her effective teaching ability were the Maine Soil Conservation, New England Soil Conservation, Maine Agriculture and Walmart. She was chosen for the First Team by the UnumProvident Educator’s Hall of Fame in 2006. This organization recognizes educators who provide creative lessons for children and regularly go beyond to educate and influence Maine children. The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse recognized Wright for her innovative potato math/science programs and in 2010 she received the award for Outstanding Conservation Partner from the Soil Conservation.
    Her dedication to Maine agriculture led to the creation of Harvest Camp for third and fourth grades in SAD 29 during the annual potato harvest recess. Students received enrichment in both math and science during this break from regular school.
    Wright has been involved in the Beacon grant, Journeys for Change, a three-year arts grant and most recently the Reading First Initiative, spearheaded by Candace Crane, Houlton Elementary School principal and her staff.
    As Virginia Urbanek, the evening’s mistress of ceremonies and a staff member at Wellington, so poignantly stated, “It’s appropriate that your mother, Bun Dow and siblings are here tonight, Nancy, because you definitely were shaped by them. As the oldest child of six, you learned from an early age about responsibility and hard work. You were influenced by your father Wilford’s philosophy, ‘if you want something, you work for it’.”
    Wright has seen many changes in education during her career. Although there have been many positive changes, such as the highly successful core reading program used in the district now, she misses the flexibility in the classroom for creative projects, time for seasonal plays and other activities.
    “I have learned a lot about education over the years,” said Wright, “and I am very proud to say, mostly from children. They have made my job different every day. I have had a rich career.”
    During the evening, younger brother, Mike Dow and her sister, Barbie McGuire, shared a few ‘Nancy’ stories and Dawn Dougan, curriculum-coordinator spoke on behalf of the SAD 29 administration.
Photo by Karen Donato
ALL ABOUT NANCY — Younger siblings, Barbie McGuire and Michael Dow shared a few comical stories about their older sister, Nancy Wright who was honored at a retirement celebration recently.
    Dougan, a former Houlton High School teacher, recalled comments from several students who had Wright as an elementary teacher, and how they all enjoyed being in her class and how much fun they had as students. She praised Wright for her dedication to her students and to leading Wellington School to a very high standard.
    Laurine Wilson, Houlton Elementary kindergarten teacher entertained the audience with a rendition of ‘Mrs. Wishy-Washy’, a popular classroom book and local resident, Frank Hamilton provided dinner music for the event.
    As this dedicated educator leaves her busy life as a teacher and administrator, she looks forward to spending time with her family, planting a big garden with her grandchildren, Ryan and Reagan and enjoying her time at the family camp. She also looks forward to volunteering at school and maybe joining the substitute list.   
    Wright received an oil painting of Wellington School from her family and another of her home from invited guests. Both paintings were done by Frank Sullivan of Littleton, a professional artist, whose son is a student in Wright’s class.
    The painting of Wellington School featured a small inscription that read, “Home Away From Home,” a phrase her husband Dana often said to her because she spent so much time there, from the early hours of morning to many late nights and weekends. Even community members often noticed the lights still on at the school and Wright’s car parked by the door. The painting of her home was inscribed with “Welcome Home,” a place Wright looks forward to being, without meetings and schedules.
    In closing, Urbanek said, “As our staff bids farewell to you, Nancy, we face the unknown, but as you have prepared your students, you have prepared our staff. You empowered us to embrace learning, nurture family, protect privacy, but most of all love and cherish children. For that, we thank you. God’s blessings to you and yours.”