After 26 years of teaching at Braintree High School, Mrs. Smith is officially retiring. She has been a big part of the school for a long time, not just as a teacher, but as someone with deep roots here. She graduated from Braintree High herself, and later, both of her children graduated from Braintree aswell. Her retirement marks the end of a chapter that has been full of dedication, learning, and love for the Braintree community.
Mrs. Smith loved being at the same school as her kids, however her son and daughter had mixed emotions towards this.
“My son hated it. On the other hand, my daughter loved having me at the same school as her. She would always come into my room, ‘Mom I need a pass!’ ‘Mom, I need money!’”
Mrs. Smith remembers her Biology teacher from when she went to the old Braintree High, when it was located in what is now Landmark Apartments. This teacher had an impact on her, inspiring her throughout her entire life.
Before becoming a teacher, Mrs. Smith worked as a nurse. She went to UMass Amherst and earned a degree in plant science, which shows how much she’s always been interested in science and nature. Even though she started out studying plants, she later moved into healthcare, and eventually teaching. Her background as a nurse helped make her anatomy classes more interesting and real for students. She didn’t just teach, she actually showed how they connected to real life, and that’s something students will never forget.
Mrs. Smith was known for being supportive, passionate, and hardworking. She challenged her students to do their best, but she always made sure they knew she believed in them.
“I always try to think of my students as my equal. There is no difference. If I show respect to them, they respect me back.”
Many students say she inspired them to look into careers in science or medicine. Her love for learning and science clearly rubbed off on the people around her.
Even though she’s retiring, Mrs. Smith isn’t slowing down. She’s planning a solo trip to the Galápagos Islands to study wildlife and enjoy nature. On top of that, she’s planning to go back to school to earn her doctorate.
“I want to use a functional MRI machine to see how a student’s brain works when hearing stories.”
Her research will use brain scans, called functional MRIs to study how students’ brains work when they listen to stories. It’s just another example of how curious and motivated she is.
Mrs. Smith has made a huge impact on Braintree High, and she will be missed by both students and teachers. She’s shown what it means to be a great teacher, and her influence will definitely last for years to come.
