LISBON – Mary Beth McCormack has always enjoyed writing. She has written and performed humorous monologues in high school. She enjoys writing children’s stories, especially in rhyme.

Many children come to school without having heard nursery rhymes growing up. McCormack, a Title 1A Ed Tech at Lisbon Community School, has shared her writing with some of the classrooms. Students love to see that a “real person” they know can write. It gives them more confidence in their own writing.

Last spring McCormack entered a poetry contest sponsored by WCSH 6, the local NBC affiliate. She wanted to show one of the classes she work with that writing can be fun and, that although the chances were slim that she would actually win the contest, she would have fun writing the poem. Much to her surprise she won.

Last summer McCormack read about a contest sponsored by Women’s Day magazine and Scholastic Books. She decided to submit a rhyming story she had written titled “Sneaker Sale,” based on her own experience while taking her daughter sneaker shopping.

This winter she was announced as one of the 10 runners-up in the contest, which was entered by 3,000 people from all over the country. She won a set of children’s books signed by the author.

McCormack’s piece will be published May 8 at womensday.com. The June 1 issue of Women’s Day will mention that her manuscript can be viewed on the Web site.

For more information on special events in the Lisbon School Department, contact Community Resource Coordinator Monica Millhime by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 754-0021.