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July 11, 2005
Clark University recognizes Lemire of Lowell as Outstanding Secondary Educator
 WORCESTER, MA -- Robert Lemire Jr., a Lowell resident and history teacher at Chelmsford High School, received this year's Outstanding Secondary Educator Award from the Clark University Alumni Association. The award recognizes secondary-school teachers for the critical role they play in preparing students for higher education. It is presented at Honors Convocation, held just prior to commencement every year.
Lemire earned his bachelor's degree from Merrimack College and his master's degree from the University of New Hampshire. He completed coursework toward a Ph.D. at the College of William and Mary, and began his career in Virginia as a teacher, department chair and director of instruction at the Collegiate School, where he received the Distinguished Teacher Award and the Cum Laude Faculty Award.
He has taught at Ipswich High School and has taught part-time at UMASS Lowell and Northern Essex Community College. He currently teaches advanced-placement U.S. history, advanced-placement European history, and world and ancient history at Chelmsford High School. He also designed and team taught the humanities curriculum at Chelmsford and served in the school's Faculty Senate.
Lemire writes between 40 and 65 college recommendation letters each year-illustrating not only his dedication to his students, but also his students' enthusiasm for their history teacher.
His former student, Stefanie Bator of North Chelmsford, nominated Lemire for the award and accepted it on his behalf when he could not attend the Honors Convocation ceremonies. Bator, who received her bachelor of arts at Clark's commencement, described Lemire as "a true teacher" and praised him for treating his students with respect.
"A true teacher shows his students the way, yet lets his students pursue that path on their own," said Bator. "Mr. Lemire never led us. He pointed to a path, gave us a swift kick in the pants and shout of encouragement."
Bator said Lemire continued to be a trusted adviser as she pursued her studies at Clark, offering her advice and guidance on her honors research on Colonial Lexington, Mass., and the Battle of Lexington. In addition, she credited Lemire with her decision to pursue a career as a historian.
"Mr. Lemire taught me to love history for all the right reasons," said Bator, who will begin a Ph.D. program in the fall. "He has been one of the greatest influences on my life and on my career path. As a teacher, he made me a better student and a lifelong learner."
According to Mary Maloney, senior associate director of Alumni Affairs at Clark, "Mr. Lemire has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a history teacher and his commitment to his students was unmatched. It's that type of dedication and encouragement, that commitment to academic excellence and innovation, that Clark likes to recognize and perpetuate."
This is the 21st year that Clark's Alumni Association has presented the Outstanding Secondary Educator Award. Clark seniors nominate their high-school teachers for the award and then discuss the nominees with a committee of Alumni Association members.
Clark University is a private, co-educational liberal-arts research university with 2,000
undergraduate and 600 graduate students. Since its founding in 1887 as the first all-graduate school in the United States, Clark has challenged convention with innovative programs such as the International Studies Stream, the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the five-year BA/MA programs with the fifth year tuition-free for eligible students.
Angela Bazydlo
Associate Director, Media Relations
(508) 793-7635; abazydlo@clarku.edu
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