Judy Blanchard, Newtown's Recovery Project director and the district health coordinator, began her time with the Newtown Public Schools district in 1976 as a substitute teacher.Celebrating Ms Blanchard

Now, 40 years later, she said when she first started substitute teaching she was "very, very young" and was frequently mistaken for a student.

At the time, she and her husband, Kirk, shared one car that he needed to commute to work. So Ms Blanchard arranged to be picked up each day by the school bus and dropped off for work.

When she began as a substitute teacher, Ms Blanchard was a graduate of Syracuse University with a human growth and development degree, and eventually she attended St Mary's College in Hartford to earn her teaching certificate. She later earned her master's degree in health sciences from California College for Health Sciences.

Ms Blanchard has served a number of roles since starting as a substitute. She has also co-served as chair the Newtown Prevention Council with former chief of police Michael Kehoe, until recently. She began her time with the council in 1991. This year felt like the perfect time to retire, she said recently, as it marked her 40-year milestone in the district, and 25 years with the council.

Newtown Director of Health Donna Culbert and Chief of Police James Viadero will now serve as co-chairs, and Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold will serve as vice chair of the Newtown Prevention Council, Ms Blanchard said.

She said she worked under grants in the special education department until 1991, when she became certified in health and took on the district's health coordinator as a consultant when the position opened up. In 1996 she officially became the district health coordinator.

Ms Blanchard said she and Director of Pupil Services Deborah Mailoux-Petersen have been working closely to shift the recovery project director responsibilities until all the funds for the project are suspended.

When asked what she would miss most after retiring, Ms Blanchard did not hesitate to say, "The people.

"It's all the people. It's the kids and the parents. I've loved working with district parents, and then the staff at the schools, also the community," said Ms Blanchard.

Among her proudest achievements, Ms Blanchard said, is the promotion of staff wellness, and work on the district's health curriculum. With the Prevention Council, Ms Blanchard said she is proud of its efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking, and helping to install school resource officers in schools. The council, she said, was also responsible for installing the first social worker position in the district, and the first substance abuse counselor.

"I've been really lucky and blessed to have the role I've played in the district," she reflected. "It has allowed me to know the community in all its facets. It's been a pretty special position."

After her retirement, Ms Blanchard said she and her husband plan to stay in town.

"We love Newtown. It really is our town," said Ms Blanchard.

Ms Blanchard said she thinks her role as the recovery director, near the end of the Department of Education's SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grant, was to position the community to sustain recovery without the funding available.

"I feel that we are in the best place that we can be now," said Ms Blanchard, "but the reality is the job is not done. I think that I have done my best to get us to the best point where we can be right now, and there will be other, I hope, grant opportunities and the needs of the community will be met by a lot of people working together."

Ms Blanchard said she still loves her job, and for her, that helped tell her it was the right time to retire.

"I wanted to retire when I still loved the job with all my heart coming to work," she said.

School district staff and former coworkers gathered at The Villa Restaurant in Sandy Hook on Tuesday, May 31, to celebrate Ms Blanchard's announcement to retire.

Recovery Project Secretary Jane McEvoy presented Ms Blanchard with a painting of McLaughlin Vineyards by her husband, Dick McEvoy, and visitors left cards with messages and memories for Ms Blanchard to read.

A cake, decorated with the words "Thank you Judy. What a gift you have been to [Newtown Public Schools] and all of us," was prepared for the event, and a sign with Ms Blanchard's picture on it was available for people to sign with messages.

Ms Culbert said Ms Blanchard's retirement is "really well deserved," and that Ms Blanchard "gives her all and does it in a classy way."

First Selectman Pat Llodra said Ms Blanchard's contributions to the district and town have been significant. She has learned a lot from Ms Blanchard, including how to engage people in issues, Mrs Llodra said.

"Judy just epitomizes everything good about Newtown and the school system," said Ms McEvoy, adding that Ms Blanchard is humble and smart. "I personally, having worked with her, am eternally grateful to [have] been a part of that."