Volunteer recognized for service to school

NASHUA – Many parents of young children volunteer in their child’s classroom by reading to the children, assisting with class presentations and organizing holiday parties.

But how many parents continue to volunteer for almost 10 years, even after their child has moved on to a different grade? Not many, which is why Nashua resident Laurie Ethier was nominated for, and received the 2009 Outstanding New Hampshire Volunteer of the Year Award.

She started volunteering at Mount Pleasant Elementary School when her daughter entered kindergarten, and for almost 10 years has continued to offer a lending hand in Nashua schools, particularly Elm Street Middle School and Mount Pleasant Elementary School. Ethier is a paraprofessional at Mount Pleasant, but still plays a dual role as a volunteer.

“The best part about volunteering is being around the kids,” Ethier said. “It’s an overall rewarding experience.”

She served on Mount Pleasant’s Parent Teacher Organization board for eight years, holding the PTO president position for three, the volunteer coordinator position for four, and program coordinator position for one.

In October, Ethier was recognized at the 28th annual Blue Ribbon breakfast at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. The 2008-09 school year was the 21st consecutive year the Nashua School District has qualified for the Blue Ribbon Achievement Award for school volunteering. Winning the Blue Ribbon means that the schools have met standards in areas of recruitment, orientation, placement/training, record keeping, recognition and evaluation.

Mount Pleasant Principal Mary-Frances Tintle nominated Ethier for the award.

“I was new to the school last year and right from the start, Laurie was welcoming and kept me informed and included,” Tintle said.

Even though Ethier was a parent volunteer, her everyday presence in the school allowed her to become more like a staff member than a volunteer.

“The kids love her. Everyone knows her and trusts her,” Tintle said.

Tintle didn’t tell Ethier she nominated her for the award, and they both received the confirmation letter of Ethier’s award from the New Hampshire Partners in Education on the same day.

“I was very surprised I was even nominated, let alone to win,” Ethier said. “I didn’t expect to be the one to get this award.”

Tintle and Stacy Hynes, Director of Grants and Community Development for the Nashua School District, both agree Ethier was the obvious choice for this year’s award.

“She’s wonderfully reliable, approachable, professional and dedicated. She really is someone you can count on,” Hynes said.

Hynes has known Ethier since she started her volunteer work 10 years ago.

Ethier, who is very modest about her recognition, said she knows that she works with talented people who work hard every day to make sure things run smoothly at Mount Pleasant.

“So many people do so much work here that it’s surprising when you’re the one to get nominated,” Ethier said. “The staff here is great to work with.”

Even though she now works at Mount Pleasant, Ethier is still planning on volunteering in the classroom at least once a week.

Julianne Hanckel can be reached at 594-5833 or jhanckel@nashuatelegraph.com.