Thank You Mary Lynn Riggs

Next year a familiar face in Franklin West will no longer be making on an impact on the teaching and learning of all of our students, teachers, and principals. Mary Lynn Riggs is retiring her position after serving as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at FWSU for the past 8 years.

Mary Lynn’s career is one of legend in the field of education in Vermont. She started as a teacher at Essex High School and then served as Principal of Swanton Elementary School, Orchard School in South Burlington, and St. Albans City School. Along the way she also attained her Doctorate in Education.

Working at FWSU was important Mary Lynn for two reasons. First, as a professional she valued the culture of innovation and creativity that is fostered in all of our schools. Mary Lynn has been essential in moving our system forward by aligning our curriculum and promoting collaboration among schools with our vertical teaming structure. She also implemented a new teacher mentoring system that continues to be a model for many other schools in our region.

The second reason our district has been important to Mary Lynn is her connection to our students and staff. FWSU is her home district. Her children were former students and her grandchildren are currently attending FWSU schools. Her passion to make all of our schools great for each and every student is personal and is what we will all remember most about Mary Lynn. She was a leader and a educational giant in Vermont.

We wish Mary Lynn best of luck as she begins her new challenge of improving early education in Vermont!