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Anne Lane Leaving Behind Legacy; Lauded for Her Work at Weymouth School

Posted on: Friday, 8 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

The Patriot Ledger

WEYMOUTH - Anne Lane couldn't hold back her tears as she thinks of what she'll miss most about Academy Avenue Primary School.

"Everything," said the school principal as she choked up. "I'm going to miss everything."

"I am happy to be going, though, which is weird," she added.

Lane, 58, is retiring in August after leading the school since 1993. The Hingham resident also will leave behind a 36-year career in the district that includes teaching in four other schools and head up the Johnson Early Childhood Center as its current principal.

"It's time to go," said Lane, who has reached the state's retirement age based on her years of service. "I need to grow. I need to move on, do something different, have a new adventure."

This fall, Lane will become principal of Noah Wallace School, an elementary school in Farmington, Conn. "I consider this semi- retirement because I'll have one school. It will be easier," she said.

Superintendent Joseph Rull said while he is sorry to see Lane go, he is thrilled she'll continue to affect another group of students and teachers.

"She is a hard-working, dedicated administrator who has left her mark on this district," he said.

Parents, teachers and students said they will miss the administrator they describe as proactive, caring and competent.

"She's the best. She's always there for us," said fourth-grader Marisol Chase as she enjoyed Fourth Grade Fun Day with her friends yesterday.

"She treats everyone equally and never leaves anyone out," chimed in fourth-grader Shannon Mullaney. Laura LeBarron, parent of fourth-grader Brett, said Lane has run the Academy Avenue School with a velvet glove.

"She has a soft touch but a zero tolerance for any trouble," she said. Under Lane's leadership, the K-4 school earned the federal No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School Program award last year and was selected as a state Compass School in 2003 for exemplary performance.

"I had a vision of creating a really collaborative school where the belief is every child deserves a rich and challenging curriculum and a staff that believes every child has the potential to reach high levels, and that's what we did here," Lane said, giving credit to parents who helped the school with its many initiatives.

Lane's work can also be seen at the Johnson Early Childhood Center where she helped blend two staffs and align the curriculum with the primary school level.

Districtwide, the Weymouth native led the charge in many areas. Lane is particularly proud of the Beginning Teacher Induction Program she designed and implemented in 1996. The program supports teachers in their first year and has become a state model.

Lane also introduced to the town a social competency program that helps children develop positive social relations.

"She's been a real positive influence in town," said third-grade teacher Kathy Pijewski. "(Her retirement) is like a passing of an era. She's left a wonderful legacy here."

Two local administrators will replace Lane this summer. Victoria Silberstein, administrator of special education, will become principal at Johnson Early Childhood Center, and James Lucia, housemaster at Adams Middle School, will take over at Academy Avenue.

As Lane gets ready to leave the district, she has a few words of advice for the Academy Avenue School.

"Keep growing," she said. "Any great school is like a shark. If it doesn't continually move forward, it dies." Eunice Kim may be reached at ekim@ledger.com.

Source: Patriot Ledger, The; Quincy, Mass.

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