On October 18, 2023, members of the LS community gathered for the Wall of Recognition Ceremony to celebrate ten teachers and staff members who made a lasting impact on LS. The Forum spoke to two recipients who were honored and detailed their effect on LS.
Karen Thomspon worked at LS for 31 years. During her tenure, she was a facility member and Spanish teacher, who started the Pure Help program, Faculty Advisory Council, and school mediation program. She wanted to come to LS due to its reputation as one of the most progressive schools in all of Massachusetts. So, of course, she was thrilled when she heard that there was an opening. She was a finalist for the job, competing against a Spanish cook and a Spanish flamenco dancer, and evidently wowed the judges as she would the whole of LS during her time here. She loved working at LS because of how innovative her colleagues were, and because everyone who worked there was so open to ideas. No matter how crazy, everyone would want to hear your idea according to Thompson. When I asked her what this night of recognition meant to her, she said, “It is humbling, and I am so very grateful, and also honored to be considered in the same group as some of the people who I respect and admire.” With lots of passion and a great laugh, she changed LS for the better.
Peter Fredrickson worked at LS for 32 years. During those 32 years, he was a counselor and director of the alternative program. Fredrickson saw an ad in the paper and decided to apply. He was very big on drug education, always insisting that LS address substance abuse head-on. During the ceremony, he thanked all of the staff, saying, “I would like to thank all staff and faculty who supported the Central program, and who supported all at-risk students for success.” During his time at LS staff members said Frederickson would always say, “We have to do better for this kid.” If it weren’t for Peter Frederickson, I am confident there wouldn’t be as many people in the world today. When I asked him what his most memorable moment at LS was, he gave me two answers: the day after 9/11 when LS held a march and an assembly, to address what had happened the day before, and to bring awareness of the events to all of its students. His second answer was when Rena Finder, a Holocaust survivor, came to the school and talked about her experiences. During her time at LS, she looked Fredrickson in the eye, and said, “You have to be vigilant, this will happen again.” Finder’s words have stuck with him for all of these years. When I asked him what the induction night meant to him, he said, “It is an incredibly special night, I am so glad that I got to work with incredibly talented people. This is truly a celebration of what LS is.”
In addition to Ms. Thompson and Mr. Fredrickson, eight other people were recognized at the ceremony: Yoshitaka Ando, Leslie Belcher, Joanna Crawford, Rich Davison, Nancy Errico, Nancy O’Neil, Judy Plott, and Bill Ray.
Superintendent Stevens summed it up well in his weekly newsletter, “It was a truly joyous affair, that is a wonderful tradition.” The Forum salutes all ten recipients of the Wall of Recognition for their dedication and service to the LS community.
