RUMFORD – Michael Lavorgna was almost shellshocked Monday morning when he was named Teacher of the Year by the area’s Wal-Mart.
“Everyone was screaming, applauding and giving the thumbs up. It was very touching,” said the Virginia Elementary School teacher, who is retiring this year after a 32-year career.
He said he had no idea when Virginia elementary and Rumford elementary schools’ principal, Ann Chamberlin, called a special assembly Monday morning that he was the reason for it.
For him, teaching young, eager children was thanks enough.
“I felt very proud, speechless. I’m not in this for the accolades,” he said.
The awards are presented to teachers in 4,000 areas around the country served by Wal-Marts. Each winning teacher’s district receives $1,000. Lavorgna and his counterparts received a Wal-Mart vest with “Teacher of the Year” written on it, and a plaque.
Marie White, personnel manager at the Mexico Wal-Mart and a former student of Lavorgna’s, said he had made a huge difference in the lives of his pupils.
“He’s wonderful and so creative, especially with children with reading problems” she said, adding that Lavorgna’s retirement as well as the closing of the small Virginia Elementary School at the end of this school year probably factored into the choice.
The Teacher of the Year is chosen by a vote of the store’s employees and customers.
White said a state winner will be chosen by mid-June. The winning teacher’s district will receive $10,000. Each state winner will then compete in Arkansas in August for a $25,000 school district award.
Lavorgna, a graduate of the last class from Stephens High School in 1969, and an alumnus from the University of Maine at Farmington, has devoted his entire career to teaching elementary children in Rumford and SAD 43. He has taught kindergarten through grade five. Second grade is his favorite.
“They are so eager to learn. You can’t give it to them fast enough. I like seeing the light come on when they grasp a new concept. And they are so eager to please,” he said.
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