Every year, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary hands out a service award to someone who embodies three simple words: service above self.
This year’s recipient, Lorna Letourneau, certainly takes that message to heart, specifically focused around local education and children.
A teacher at Rindge Memorial School for 22 years, Letourneau’s most recent endeavor was starting Victory High School in Jaffrey in 1990. Victory High School is a fully-accredited non-profit high school that helps students that don’t fit in the traditional public school model.
“I was shocked, it was a total surprise,” said Letourneau, of the award. “I do this because I love doing it, it’s a mission.”
Letourneau said she loves working with the kids that come through her school.
“These are very smart kids,” said Letourneau. “I love seeing that they are truly helped.”
Victory High School has graduated over 700 children at this point, with the school having a 98-percent graduation rate.
“What caught her attention in [the schools she was substitute teaching in] were the kids who sat in the back, the kids who did not fit in, who had trouble with class work, socializing… kids who were on the path of dropping out or being kicked out,” said Clay Hollister. “She was inspired to try and do something to help these children and their families.”
Hollister went on to speak about the advantages to the school, and how Letourneau’s mission is not only helping the students, but the community at large.
“These once troubled students go on to college, and trade schools become teachers, nurses, business people, builders, electricians, well as soldiers in all branches of our military,” said Hollister. “They do not drop out, they learn academics, they learn a work ethic and they learn to succeed.”
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.