Former parent and longtime board member of Litchfield Montessori School, Linda Saarnijoki Receives the 2016 CAIS Award.
June 22nd, 2016
Each year the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools asks for nominations for the CAIS Award. This The CAIS Award is presented to a person, group of people or institution that has provided an inspiring example of leadership and commitment to the improvement of education for children in Connecticut. These are the words I used when I nominated Linda Saarikjoki for the2016 CAIS award. I am delighted that she was chosen as the recipient this year.
~ Cara Johnson
Linda has played an important role in the life of Litchfield Montessori School for the last twenty years. It all began when she was searching for a school for her daughter, Eliza and she discovered Litchfield Montessori School. Eliza attended LMS from the time she was three until she graduated from Upper Elementary at twelve years old. As an educator, Linda saw the value in a Montessori education, and quickly became a staunch supporter of the school and its mission. She was a dedicated parent, served on the parent association, and soon became a member of the Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, Linda has dedicated countless hours and lent her considerable expertise to the school for twenty years! Her long tenure as a board member not only exemplifies her dedication to our school but also is a strong reflection of her dedication to meaningful education.
I talked at length with Linda when I was interviewing for the job of Head of School at Litchfield Montessori. I knew right then that this woman was an educator of the highest caliber, that she was smart, that she was tough, that she had very high expectations, and that she had the school’s best interests at heart. I also knew that if I was lucky enough to be offered the job, that I would be very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her.
In my professional life I have been blessed to work with a number of truly remarkable women, who have served as both mentors and role models. Although I have not known Linda for many years, I count her among these remarkable women. As a new Head of School I have faced many challenges, and I have been truly lucky to work closely with Linda.
Linda’s service to LMS alone would be enough to honor her with a lifetime achievement award, but what she has done for my school pales in comparison to the service she has devoted to Taft. Linda arrived at Taft as a young English teacher in 1976. In the 40
years that she has been at the school she has filled many roles. She has served as coach, teacher, advisor, dorm parent, English Department Chair, Dean of Faculty, and much more. Faculty life at a boarding school is not easy, and often teachers serve as much as parents as they do teachers. Work bleeds into the nights and weekends and it can be very difficult to maintain personal relationships and balance the needs of the students with your own. Linda and Rusty together found a way to balance these demands and still raise a family, and Taft is a better place today for their dedication and compassion.
Over 20 years ago Linda was instrumental in the creation of the Child Development Program (day care) at Taft, and served as President of the Board of Directors there for several years. She has lived a life dedicated to education, and in doing so she has made a profound difference for children from infancy to the moment they depart for college.
There is no doubt that, had it been her vision, Linda could easily have gone on to become a Head of School, but she never chose that path. Instead, she chose to devote herself to the students. In her role as an administrator she chose to devoted herself to faculty development, serving as a role model in commitment, professionalism, and leadership for young teachers and administrators like myself.
Willy MacMullen, Headmaster at the Taft School, has known Linda far longer than I have, and in his Parent’s Day address offered a heartfelt description of how Linda has so successfully mentored so many of the Taft faculty, including himself, over the years. His words hold true for what Linda has been able to do for former Heads of School and countless Trustees at Litchfield Montessori over the years. I can only add that I have a profound sense of gratitude for all that she has given to our school over the years, and convey a great sadness that I will not have the same opportunity to spend as many years as Willy working with and learning from her. I could think of no more deserving person to receive the CAIS Award.
