LINWOOD — A foreign language instructor and secretary were celebrated for earning statewide recognition.
The Mainland Regional High School Board of Education honored Lynnette Schroeder as the Governor’s Teacher of the Year and Michelle Prychka as Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year.
In introducing Schroeder, Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone told an anecdote about his studies in Latin and Spanish during high school — neither stuck, he said — then Italian (also didn’t last) and finally French while attending the University of Delaware.
“The reason I mention a French teacher is that our Governor’s Educator of the Year that we are very, very proud of is Miss Lynnette Schroeder, who teaches French at Mainland Regional High School,” Marrone said.
Madame Schroeder, as her students know her, worked in the Middle Township School District before arriving in Linwood about eight years ago, Marrone said.
“We inherited and we’re lucky to have Miss Schroeder,” Marrone said, noting the teacher’s continuing education includes pursuit of a doctorate degree.
“What she brings from her doctoral work at Drexel to this building, to the girls club that she runs, to the French club that she ran, is someone who(m) students have described as inspirational, encouraging and supportive. When you sit and think about what type of teachers we want in this building for our young adults, it’s encouraging, supportive, caring and inspirational,” Marrone said.
The superintendent praised Prychka for going above and beyond the call of duty, characterizing her as reliable, dedicated and trustworthy.
The Linwood native and current Mays Landing resident said she has been with the district for 22 years, starting in the copy room and advancing to a position in the district office working for the coordinator of planning, instruction, evaluation and technology.
But it’s not Prychka’s advancement for which she was honored, but rather the behavior that likely fueled that advancement.
“The gift she has given to this district is, when it came time during the pandemic to step up and step in, Michelle stepped up and stepped in,” Marrone said. “And when it came time for students on buses to ride or be an adult on the bus, Michelle rode the bus. When someone didn’t have lunch to their house, Michelle went to the house and made sure they had lunch, dinner, whatever was taken care of.”
He said that extra effort didn’t end with the worst of the pandemic.
“As we have gone forward for years, past the pandemic at this point, this young lady continues to train herself, educate herself,” Marrone said, noting her involvement with transportation and purchasing. “I cannot think of a more deserving person for the Educational Services Professional of the Year.”
Prychka now is studying for certification as a transportation coordinator.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I didn’t realize that any of us could win something like that.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff