Veteran teacher retires at Fletcher Elementary

She retired from teaching in late June, with the tremendous respect of her former students and the school’s staff members.

Before coming to Fletcher Elementary in 2004, Blackman worked at the Belvidere School, both as a Title I reading and math teacher and as a primary grade teacher. Before that, she worked as a reading and math specialist at Johnson Elementary and taught kindergarten in Eden. She was a K-3 teacher at the Meeting House School in East Fairfield from 1978 to 1982, and a paraeducator in Concord, Mass., before that. In total, Blackman worked in education for 33 years, nearly 30 of them as a classroom teacher.

Present and former students, families and colleagues honored Blackman at a reception, where the Fletcher School Board presented an apple tree to her. She and her husband, Oliver, promptly planted the tree near the pond at their Waterville home.

Blackman exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner, earning a master’s degree in early childhood education from Champlain College in the spring of 2016. She took great pride in sharing her extensive knowledge with student-teachers and other colleagues, including those at regional and national conferences such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She is a strong advocate for play as a learning tool and outdoor learning in the natural world.

No matter who or what she is teaching, her strengths include honoring the natural curiosity of the student and balancing the academic and social curriculum.

Blackman served as co-chair of the Lamoille North Standards Board, supporting the certification and relicensure of professional educators. She was a Lamoille North Literary Magazine judge, Upward Bound instructor and assistant postmaster in Waterville. She has been a school board member, lister, Welcome Baby Home Visitor for Waterville and Belvidere, community literacy team member, and a member of the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra, Johnson State College Concert Band and the Morrisville Military Band.

Mrs. Blackman’s teaching has stood the test of time. As she says farewell to our school and teaching, her smile, humor, skill and compassion become her legacy that lives on in the hearts and minds of those she taught.

“Jenny has done so much to help students, colleagues and aspiring teachers at our school,” STEM teacher leader Denette Locke said. “She embraces each and every child and family and celebrates their uniqueness. She is brilliant at finding the gifts each person has to offer and honoring children’s natural curiosities. She will be greatly missed.”

Chris Dodge is principal of Fletcher Elementary School.