Teacher Honored For 25 Years of Service

By Larissa Lytwyn

For Linda Markin, a 25-year veteran teacher of the Children’s Adventure Center (CAC) in Sandy Hook, coming to work is like coming to visit a second family.

“I love working with the people here, and of course, I love the children,” said Ms Markin during a recent celebration honoring her 25 years of service at CAC.

The CAC staff, including board members and teachers both past and present, feted Ms Markin with lush floral bouquets, balloons, cards, gifts, and a massive sheet cake.

 CAC’s young students sat in a circle around the visibly delighted Ms Markin, who passed her cards and gifts around the group in a manner reminiscent of a birthday party.

 “Ms Markin is an extremely warm and affectionate person, especially with the children,” remarked Florence Rubinstein, one of CAC’s original teachers.

Though retiring two years ago, Ms Rubinstein returned to CAC to take part in Ms Markin’s celebration.

Director Rose Luizzi admired the sheet cake, which was adorned in a springlike motif of happy-faced flowers and a creamy yellow sun.

“Ms Marking is my right hand,” said Ms Luizzi.

She pointed to the cake. “She’s like the sun,” she said. “She has a special rapport with the students. They really respond to her. When they’re older, they remember her, too. She really makes a positive impact on the people around her.”

Ms Markin said one of her most “dear” memories was helping her school-age students bring nursery rhymes and children’s tales to life in musical versions of their favorite stories.

“We had a lot of fun, we really did,” she said.

In addition to her appreciation of the arts, Ms Markin loves to travel — an interest her staff knows well. Among the gifts she received was a personal organizer, complete with passport pocket, and a neck pillow ideal for resting one’s neck during long flights.

Ms Markin will be traveling on a ten-day tour of Italy this November, visiting cities including Florence and Rome.

In addition to her travel items, CAC’s board of directors presented Ms Markin with a personally engraved silver beverage cooler.

“This was more than I could have expected — thank you!” exclaimed Ms Markin.

Ms Markin plans to continue to teach at CAC for a “few more years” before retiring.

“I’ve had a wonderful experience teaching here and look forward to continuing [that],” she said.