Social studies teacher Shane Gilbert stamps Alexus Newton’s hand with an image of a cat. The seventh-grader had donated money to an Auburn Middle School fundraiser in honor of a science teacher who passed Jan. 19 after a two-year battle with cancer. Students were allowed to wear hats throughout the day in exchange for donating $1. The money will be given to the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, a place at which Laurie Jean Sproul Marcotte spent many hours volunteering. Gilbert said he had many fond memories of teaching lessons and chaperoning middle school dances with Marcotte. “She and I had this relationship that was silly,” said Gilbert. “We would laugh hysterically.” Gilbert said that during his colleague’s two-year battle, Marcotte never wanted flowers or anything. “All she ever asked for these past two years was to make a donation to the humane society. That is really what she wanted. You could not ask for a more compassionate teacher,” Gilbert said. Gilbert said this year’s AMS yearbook will be dedicated to Marcotte. “Her passion was her teaching. She was all about science,” Gilbert said. Students raised $504 during “Crazy Hat Day.” (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

Laurie Jean Sproul Marcotte taught science for 19 years at Auburn Middle School. “She always made those connections with kids,” said Marcotte’s colleague Shane Gilbert. Gilbert said Marcotte especially had a knack for getting through to those students who struggled in school. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

Each student and staff member who donated received a cat stamp on their hand. Laurie Jean Sproul Marcotte was a volunteer and foster care provider at Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

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