Updated: Hundreds Turn Out For Beloved Kindergarten Teacher's 35th Year

As a little girl, Angela Spaman came from Melilli, Sicily, to build a new life with her family in Middletown — as thousands of Italian immigrants have done before her here, in Melilli's sister city.

For 35 years, this beloved teacher, whose first langage wasn't even English, has been the creative, inspirational and instructive force for Macdonough Elementary School's kindergartners in the city's North End.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of students, staff, community members and Spaman's own family gathered for a surprise celebrating and Japanese Stewartia tree planting honoring this neighborhood school's longest serving teacher.

Principal Jon Romeo detailed Spaman's early days at Macdonough.

"Mrs. Spaman first came to Macdonough in November of 1976 in an experimental program called Title 1. She was paid $8 an hour. She went on to teach English language learners and was ultimately appointed a kindergarten teacher," Romeo said.

"In a school where the average age of teachers is not 35, the fact that Mrs. Spaman spent her entire career here is a powerful statement about her commitment to this learning community."

As the strains of the school's catchy anthem, "Knowledge is Power," began, Spaman wiped away tears, clapped and sang. Alongside her, a young boy danced unabashedly while the crowd chanted, "... use your opportunities and don't be a fool / because you have the right to stay in school."

Romeo read a parent's letter to the crowd that he found in Spaman's personnel file, praising her talents.

"Mrs. Spaman is one of those rare gems who is masterful about both the art and science of teaching. The most important thing is that Mrs. Spaman genuniely loves and cares about children. She comes to the classroom not just to provide quality instruction but to improve the quality of life for each and ever child."

During the celebration, teachers and students read poems they had written for the occasion, in honor of arguably the most stylish, poised and charismatic elementary schoolteacher anyone has known.

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