NORTHFIELD — As Pioneer Valley Regional School’s graduating Class of 1961 returned to the area for their 55-year reunion on Oct. 9, many of them had their late teacher John Callahan (bit.ly/2evNicZ) in their thoughts.
Callahan, a Northfield resident who taught chemistry and spent several years as Pioneer’s assistant principal, died in 2013 at the age of 88, leaving a lasting legacy in the eyes of his students.
“He was a truly outstanding leader and class advisor,” said Marsha Pratt, 73, of Bernardston and a member of the 1961 graduating class. “He stayed very much in touch with people over the years (and) our class held him in such high esteem.”
Coming into the 55-year reunion, Pratt said she and her classmates knew they wanted to do something to honor Callahan. Pratt proposed making a donation to the Foundation for Educational Excellence (bit.ly/2ejQJP4), a local, nonprofit organization that provides grants to support educational programs and co-curricular activities specifically within the Pioneer Valley Regional School District.
“I thought it would be so fitting to honor a teacher by making a contribution to a school where he had spent so much time and energy,” Pratt said.
Her classmates overwhelmingly agreed. At the reunion, they set aside $50 from their class treasury, Pratt said, and she asked her classmates if they would be willing to supplement that with individual contributions.
“I was hoping for $100,” she said. “Within moments, we had over $500.”
With 20 donations from the majority of the alumni, the class raised $535 for the Foundation for Educational Excellence.
“I frankly expect there will be more contributions because a lot of people have said ‘I’ll mail it to you,’” Pratt added.
Pratt came up with the idea of donating to the nonprofit after meeting Foundation for Educational Excellence Chairman Justin Lawrence. Lawrence said the nonprofit was founded in 1991 by members of the Pioneer Valley Regional School District committee, faculty and administration.
“Their goals were to support the teachers in a different avenue than budgeted funds,” Lawrence said. “They saw that teachers’ impact on students could be greater if they had more funding. The idea has just grown.”
The donations will be used to support grants of up to $3,000, that in turn can be used to bring motivational speakers to school, purchase museum tickets for students, purchase classroom materials and technology, fund memorial projects and more.