Retiring Teacher Can Relate to Graduating Seniors

Linda Porick remembers when agriculture students at actually had fields to tend and cows lived on the property.

 Porick, 63, started at the school as an English teacher in 1977 -- 41 years ago.

Now, some 5,000 students and 80,000 graded papers later -- by her calculations -- Porick is retiring from Lincoln Way East.

She is the second-longest running teacher at the school, one of the last two of the original 45 teachers. Porick describes her pending retirement as bittersweet. 

Today's graduation for the Lincoln Way East seniors is a fitting end to Porick's year, as she has been senior class sponsor for the past nine years.

She told the class of 2011 during orientation this year, "I'm a senior, too." And received a standing ovation from her students.

"They must have applauded about three or four minutes," Porick recalled.

She doesn't know exactly how she will handle graduation, but suspects: "I'm probably going to be just a wreck."

Porick considers herself fortunate to be able to have followed her passion as an English teacher all these years.

"I love English," she said, "And when you teach it, you become better at it, which makes you a better teacher."

She initially wanted to be a music teacher, but back when she began in the school system, most music teachers were men, she said. Though English wasn't exactly her first choice, she has no regrets.

"My highlight of my years [at Lincoln Way East] have been my students," Porick said.

It's not just about teaching English either, but "You always want them to remember you for all the life lessons you taught," she added.

Porick's teaching style and compassion for students even inspired some of her pupils to go into the field. Several Lincoln Way alum are now teachers at the school, and give her the credit.

 "Before Mrs. Porick's class, I hated reading," said Amy (Amanda) Stewart, now an English teacher at Lincoln Way East.

It was in Porick's class that Stewart first connected to the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "anyone who has ever had Mrs. Porick knows that her classroom is a different world--a comforting, open environment that encourages teacher-student understanding and communication," she added. 

Even as a colleague now, Stewart relied on Porick for a piece of advice or a message of wisdom, though she never called her former teacher by her first name. 

"I just couldn't do it," Stewart said.

Porick said she gets many compliments from her students, especially those who go into teaching.

"I think they have gained a love for the profession," she said.

It's a love she is happy to pass on. As for what will happen during retirement, Porick can still see herself as a Lincoln Way East "super fan" -- a fan who supports every sport at the high school -- and may possibly go back to school.

But she does know she plans to somehow stay involved with young people.

"My students keep me young," she said. "And people have told me, 'You're going to stay around young people when you retire.'"