Main Sections

Local Principal Celebrates Over Thirty Years In Education

photo by provided

photo by provided

Tuesday June 7, 2016

By Cookie Steponaitis

June Larrabee Sargent simply can’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t want to be a teacher. School was the best place in her opinion growing up and she was incredibly blessed by role models in the Vergennes school system and at Middlebury College. While there were in fact a large number who impacted her growth, Sargent looks to a few who helped define her life and her choices as an individual.”Joan Jackman at VUES really encouraged my interest in vocabulary, and she was the first teacher that challenged me personally to learn more and go above and beyond in my studies.,” reminisced  Sargent. “Also at VUES was Joe Samaritoni.  Somehow he must have brainwashed me, as I went on to study with a passion ancient civilizations and languages, not to mention my addiction to Star Trek!  At the high school, it was Jon Yarnell who continued teaching me about World History although through the lenses of Humanities.  He encouraged me to share my own voice when writing, and to synthesize the research that I loved to do into well-crafted essays.  Wayne Ganson also at VUHS taught me that it was ok to have some fun while learning challenging content.  At Middlebury College, I learned from Pardon Tillinghast, one of the most revered professors there.  He taught me that it was really all about the students and what they would take away from a lesson.  In our upper level courses, we would go to his home for class.  He fed us and then would sit back in his stairway as my peers and I discussed and debated the history material we had been reading.  I also can’t leave out Scott Lynk and Roland Guyette, both who were coaches and mentors for me, and who regularly took turns trying to mold me into the student-athlete I eventually became. Lastly, I was blessed to have had Peter Brakely at MUMS as my mentor teacher.  He showed me how to design meaningful lessons and inspired me with his energy and passion for his students.”
    With a career spanning over thirty years, Sargent came full circle to finish her career as principal of the school she began in as a youngster. Teaching Social Studies at Mount Abraham, Middlebury Middle School and Otter Valley, Sargent also took over the helm of the Latin program at Mt. Abe reaching out to students who were interested in learning the language and the ancient history in tandem. Serving for twelve years as principal, Sargent led the Middle School at Mt. Abe for three years, five years as Principal of Proctor High School and came home to Vergennes as the principal for the past four years. At the heart of her decisions and as the source of her joy are the interactions with the students. “I love watching them interact with each other, learn new things, and enjoy being in school and all that comes with a public education,” explained Sargent.
    Like all careers that change repeatedly over time, the tools and research about how to best educate children has taken many different paths and directions during Sargent’s tenure. When asked to share the greatest challenges she faced in her career, Sargent explained that staying on top of the latest education research was time consuming and a balancing act. “It’s easy to rely on older studies and teaching practices, but the students’ face different challenges today and even their brains are shown to be wired differently due in part to their access to technology,” remarked Principal Sargent. “Academically they are being required to learn more at an earlier age in order to both compete in and be a contributing member of a global society as they grow into adulthood.  Personalizing learning, holding students accountable for behavioral norms that are also changing, and teaching them the skills sets to be successful for any future endeavor are what public educators face daily now.  It is a tough job and I applaud those that do it well.”
    With so many years of wonderful experiences to draw from, Sargent could not  pick just one to share with the Voice readers. With a deep appreciation for the Champlain Valley and Vermont, Sargent highlighted both the pace of life and the appreciation for the environment, Yankee ingenuity, work ethic and caring for neighbors and community that serve as the foundation for most of the lessons learned in school. “I guess this is really more of a message about Vermont education than a story,” grinned Sargent.  “I have had the opportunity to work in 5 different school systems in my career, and to have served for 9 years on the Executive Council for the Vermont Principals’ Association, with 2 as its President.  These opportunities have allowed me to travel to many schools and meet with teachers and principals across the nation.  Parents should know that Vermont is on the leading front of innovative educational practices that truly prepare students for the future.  I would encourage parents to be active participants in their child’s school, support the work of the dedicated teachers, and challenge the system to continue to seek out and provide the most current instructional methods and resources available.  That is how Vermont can continue to be the educational leader that it is within the country.”
    While fall will again bring the buses and Sargent will feel a pull to be back in the midst, it is only a matter of time before she will again find herself working with children in a different capacity. With current plans to focus on her parents’ estate and resolving some health challenges, Sargent wants to thank the superb teachers and administrators who have been supportive and a part of her professional life all of these years.”Without that network, and the wonderful teachers and coaches who dedicated their lives to working with children like me,” I could not have become the person I am today.  My personal successes are simply a reflection of all of them,” concluded Sargent.   “The two things that I truly enjoy the most, are seeing a child who has been struggling finally get that ‘ah ha’ moment and then beam with pride, or when a former student comes up or contacts me, and then proceeds to tell me how their life has turned out.  That’s when I know that I chose the right career path!”
    The Valley Voice salutes June Sargent and thanks her for the love, passion and dedication she has put into action all of these years and encourages us all to pause and reflect. Who were those people in your youth whose actions took you to a new place in your life and helped you believe in yourself and reach new goals? How can we all give that gift back to the next generation?

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives