http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/lewisboro/27929.shtml
Jan 24, 2008
Lewisboro Elementary School principal Mary Flynn-Maguire to retire
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After 12 years in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District and 36 years as an educator, Lewisboro Elementary School Principal Mary Flynn-Maguire has announced that she plans to retire at the end of this school year. Her retirement will cap off a tenure that saw a dramatically increasing school population and the implementation of several new programs.
“You need to know when it’s time,” Ms. Flynn-Maguire told The Ledger. “I really just want to honor the wonderful experience I’ve received here. These are the best years of my career.”
Ms. Flynn-Maguire grew up in the Bronx, only a mile from Yankee Stadium. After graduating from Mercy College with a degree in biology, she went on to earn a master’s degree in special education and an administrative certificate from Manhattan College.
“I always wanted to be a teacher; I always loved learning,” she said. “I’m never really afraid to learn something new — I learn from everybody.”
Her teaching career started in private schools, before she moved on to teaching math and science at an alternative high school in White Plains, and coordinating the school’s math and science programs. She served as director of computer education for eight years in Port Chester, then as assistant principal in Port Chester and Redding, Conn., for two years each.
Around 1995, Ms. Flynn-Maguire earned her doctorate from Fordham University and started looking for a position as a principal. She found Lewisboro Elementary School.
“The stars were just aligned,” she said. “I was very fortunate to be hired here.”
Building a community
During her tenure at Lewisboro, Ms. Flynn-Maguire has attempted to focus on the entire learning environment of the children in her care. She instituted the “responsive classroom” program, trying to build a community in the school and to teach the students responsibility.
“It’s not just about grades,” she said. “It’s about what children really learn, and their attitude about learning.”
Ms. Flynn-Maguire began holding morning meetings for the students, building that sense of community. To bring in parents and the community, she holds coffee sit-downs and socials.
One of her more successful programs was Bagels, Books and Bananas, a half-hour held before school a few times each year. Parents and children can attend to receive food and to read together.
Educational initiatives
While Ms. Flynn-Maguire led Lewisboro Elementary School, the district was instituting two new, large initiatives — balanced literacy and Everyday Math.
“Both of them are probably the biggest changes in my career,” she said. “Everyday Math is just so impressive. These children truly understand math. They don’t just learn by rote.”
She has overseen the integration of technology into the classroom, helping teachers to use computers and the Internet in their curricula, and helped institute larger and more comprehensive special education programs.
All this while the school population was increasing, especially during a redistricting that reassigned many students to Lewisboro Elementary School.
But Ms. Flynn-Maguire said she has learned as much from the job as she has given.
“I really learned to listen,” she said. “Sometimes, you need to just be quiet, and that’s not an easy thing to do at times. It’s easy to do many things yourself. But when many people do it together, there’s much more ownership.”
After retirement
Ms. Flynn-Maguire does not plan to abandon her connections to education upon her retirement.
“I’m definitely going to stay working with children,” she said, possibly tutoring students in math or consulting on math programs for school districts. “I really love math and I love working with kids. I’ll certainly miss the people — the big ones and the little people.”
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Dear John,
I believe that Mary Brigid is a member of the Class of 1977.
Mike
[JR: Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. ]
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Flynn-Maguire, Mary (MC1977)
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