LCS Principal Says Farewell

Ledyard Center School Principal Mary Fort Boyle was on the Fairgrounds Monday afternoon, celebrating with students the achievements of the Green Team – a program at the school that encourages recycling.

For Fort Boyle, who announced her retirement in April, Monday’s celebration marked the start of her final week at Ledyard Center School, where she has worked since 1992, serving as principal since 2000.

But by day’s end she was thinking about something else. “My daughter’s coming home from Tanzania!” she said with so much excitement that she actually jumped as she said it.

Fort Boyle’s children – Kathleen and Patrick – clearly are at the center of her world. Kathleen is a medical student at Yale, and this spring Patrick graduated from Manhattan College with a bachelor’s degree in English.

All of which relates to the timing of her retirement – Patrick’s graduation and her own – as proclaimed on a “Happy Graduation” poster in her office, signed by students and teachers.

“It is a graduation,” said Fort Boyle, who will turn 60 this summer. “I’m matriculating to the next phase of my life.”

Exactly what that phase will hold she has yet to decide. “I’m going to figure out what I want to do with the skills I’ve acquired,” she said.

As unlikely as it sounds, she said, “I may not do anything.” Then, after some thought, added, “I hope to do something purposeful.”

“Purposeful” is how Fort Boyle described the last 19 years at Ledyard Center School. She has worked hard, she said. “I worked all the time. When I wasn’t working, I was avoiding work.”

But she said she is proud of what the school has accomplished during her tenure.

“Ledyard Center School has always been open to new kids and new things,” she said. “I am proud of the things we have done here.” 

Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner said Fort Boyle has been an excellent principal who knew her students well and was instrumental in creating a very welcoming and student-centered school climate. 

He said Fort Boyle wrote a newsletter to the Ledyard Center School community in which she focused on the school's initial letters "LCS," which would represent "Learning, Climate and Safety."

"Under her leadership, school staff have worked hard to promote a very positive learning environment, a productive school climate, and a place where children will feel safe," Graner said.  "I will miss her excellent sense of humor and 'can do' spirit as a leadership team member."

In a letter to parents sent earlier this spring, Fort Boyle said there have been many traditions held dear, and many changes that have challenged the school.  “I leave knowing the students of Ledyard Center School are in very good hands." 

Asked what she will miss most, she said, “the purposefulness.”

“I have always thought of this as an awesome job, but also an awesome responsibility,” she said.

She added, “This school is a treasure, and it has been an honor and privilege to be here.”