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“Her Mark is Everywhere”

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By Brittany Albright
A lesson taught by Susan Lewis and a portrait of her

 

Some people will just never be forgotten. The things they leave behind, and the people that they touch is something that will always be remembered.

Susan Lewis, former art teacher and Fine Arts Department Chair at Woodland, was one of those people.

“She was amazing,” said Christopher  Misuraca, Fine Arts teacher. “Faced with any situation she could immediately put it into perspective—regardless of how odd or stressful it was.”

“I think Mrs. Lewis made a mark everywhere in this hallway [Fine Arts Hallway],” said Kristen Lengyel, current Fine Arts Department chair.

Lengyel talks about the new permanent gallery of student work in the Fine Arts hallway and how it was a vision of Mrs. Lewis’. “Some of the pictures are ones she wanted framed. She always had this vision of how she wanted the art hallway to look.”

Misuraca admits he wished the gallery could have come together earlier, but is glad to see that it finally did. “There is probably a thousand things she has done that have just shaped everything,” states Misuraca.

“The units that we do, the lessons that we do in Ceramics and Sculpture, in Drawing and Painting, in Advanced Art—those were her ideas, they were her inspirations,” said Lengyel. “Everywhere you turn there is something that was inspired by Mrs. Lewis—her mark is everywhere.”

In 1994 Lewis returned to teaching and it wasn’t long before she found herself at Woodland Regional. She eventually became Fine Arts Department Chair and held that title until she retired not too long ago.

“Any kid that had her as a teacher knows how magical she was,” says Lengyel.

According to the Eulogy read at her funeral, “Susan always loved teaching, conversing with and working with the teens.”

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By Alexa Fermeglia
A lesson taught by Susan Lewis

 

“Although I never had Mrs. Lewis as a teacher, she was my department head for three years,” said senior, Rex Sturdevant. “She was always helpful and kind to everyone around her, and I could tell that she loved what she did—working with students. Not only was she an amazing artist and educator, but she taught everyone surrounded by her how to live life. I love starting out every day with my walk to the band room, and seeing her influence in the artwork that is on the walls. It is such a peaceful place.”

Jess Zaccagini, former Woodland student and member of her advisory said in the Eulogy, “Mrs. Lewis, you gave this [acorn] to your advisory when we were young like acorns. You told us how strong trees need sunlight, water, good soil, and mostly love in order to grow. You showed us how Woodland was our soil, our friends were our water, and our teachers were our sunlight; but you were the love! My roots have grown deep because of your love. You will be deeply missed.”

Audra Blewitt, junior at Woodland had Lewis as an advisor for her first two years of high school. Blewitt remembers that on reading days she would read her advisory inspirational books. “She got along along well with each and every member of our advisory and made sure she paid equal attention to all of us. She was really funny and artistic around us.”

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By Susan Lewis

“She had an incredible knack for words,” said Misuraca.

Lengyel agreed saying, “she was just like this thesaurus of knowledge. Whatever she had to say would make you feel special, and whatever she said was so incredibly intelligent.”

It seems that everyone who knew her had their own special relationship with her.

“I can see how much she has inspired the teachers at Woodland,” said Sturdevant. “And she will continue to inspire me on my path to becoming a music educator.”

“Susan and I were neighbors in the teacher center,” said Misuraca. “We goofed around a lot—it was a lot of fun because she was like my big sister.”

Blewitt said, “She was really supportive and a peacemaker, she made sure that we all go along well…she was just the kind of person that wanted us to be the best we could.”

Lengyel said, “She was my friend, she was my mentor, she was my advice giver, she was my sage—she was just the best.”

 

 

4 thoughts on ““Her Mark is Everywhere”

  1. Chris Misuraca February 12, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    Thank you, Mackenzie. I know that Susan is smiling.

  2. Mary Ellen Denley February 14, 2013 at 6:21 am

    This is truly a beautifully written article. We were all most fortunate to have Susan Lewis in our lives. Her friends were especially blessed. Please know I am heartbroken for the loss of your beloved friend.

  3. Makenzie White February 14, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    Thank you very much. It was an honor to write the story.

  4. Patricia Flagler February 17, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Thank you so much for the touching article. My sister would be so proud.

Comments are closed.