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Patricia Capano
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — The longest sitting member on the Lynn School Committee has received state recognition for her leadership, sustained service and commitment to students.
Patricia Capano, school committee vice-chair, is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), at an awards dinner tonight at 7 p.m. at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, 35 Scudder Ave.
“It’s humbling immediately,” Capano said. “That’s how I immediately felt. I was surprised. Then, I was humbled by it.”
Capano has served on the school committee, which is a member of MASC, for 20 years. She said it’s the first time a member from the city’s school committee has been recognized with the award during her tenure.
Glenn Koocher, MASC executive director, said he couldn’t recall the last time someone was recognized from Lynn. Capano was nominated by the MASC Board of Directors.
“She’s being recognized for her two decades of work on the school committee, for her civic involvement and for someone who’s recognized as a leader on the board,” said Koocher.
Koocher said Capano is one of 10 people being given a lifetime achievement award at the dinner.
When she found out she was being recognized, Capano said she started reflecting back on her time as a school committee member. A lot has changed in education, she added, citing the revamping of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and schools transitioning to treating the child as a whole, with a growth of social workers in the buildings. She said Lynn schools have also become more diverse with a higher enrollment of English language learners.
“I think Lynn is a standout,” she said. “Lynn is doing a great job of serving and meeting the needs of so many students.”
Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham said it was “absolutely fitting” that Capano was being honored for her work on the school committee.
“She has worked tirelessly over the past 20 years as a strong advocate for children in Lynn, supporting all of the superintendents, principals and teachers with whom she has worked,” she said. “She consistently and thoroughly researches important issues and educates herself and her fellow school committee members on key policy decisions before voting. Mrs. Capano is reliable, dependable and highly ethical, and it has been my honor, pleasure and privilege to work directly with her for the past eight years.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at gcawley@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.