Lillian M. Fike
Lillian Fike was born and raised in Branford, Connecticut. She attended Branford Public Schools and after graduating from the high school, attended Slippery Rock State College, now University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Education. After moving to Texas, Lillian taught at a private Kindergarten school. Lillian moved back to Connecticut and was a substitute teacher in Branford and East Haven. She did a lot of substituting for Special Education and decided to get her degree in Special Education at Southern Connecticut State College, now University.
Lillian was hired to be a paraprofessional at the Branford Early Years Special Education Program, then housed in the basement of the Baptist Church. Following her completion of her Special Education Degree, Mrs. Tippet hired her to be a long-term substitute at the Pine Orchard School for a teacher on maternity leave. She was hired as a full-time teacher the 2nd half of the school year. Lillian moved to a Kindergarten position at Indian Neck School when Sharon Dixon moved to a different grade level. She taught there until the Mary T. Murphy School opened. That was the school she retired from.
She also used her extensive special education background to serve the needs of all students. She always looked at the individual needs of each child and planned instruction for each. Her calm nature created a welcoming learning environment to all children and families. Lillian had a very special way with English Language Learning (ELL) families that made them feel welcome and safe. Many came to her class with no English. Her ELL students learned from her soft-spoken ways and kindness. She welcomed all students and loved having all the many students she had. Her classroom was a rainbow of diversity.
Lillian helped rewrite the Kindergarten curriculum with Kathy Nelson, Sharon McKinnel and Rita Hennessey. She also worked on science and math curriculum throughout her years of teaching. Lillian frequently attended week long summer workshops to learn new ways of engaging the children in meaningful learning. Lillian attended many of the Kindergarten/Preschool Round Table meetings. She also tutored students during the summer vacations or after school hours. Lillian helped out when the PTA (Parent and Teacher Association) offered after school enrichment by teaching crafts, as well as teaming with Dotty Young to teach nature classes.
Lillian has one son, Christopher Fike. He, his wife Kelly and their two children, Tyler, age 5 and Madison, age 2, live in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Lillian enjoys time spent with her family members, traveling, sewing, reading and cooking.
Mary T. Murphy School was fortunate to have had Lillian as a lead kindergarten teacher for so many years. All her students benefited from her teaching and kindheartedness.
Lillian was hired to be a paraprofessional at the Branford Early Years Special Education Program, then housed in the basement of the Baptist Church. Following her completion of her Special Education Degree, Mrs. Tippet hired her to be a long-term substitute at the Pine Orchard School for a teacher on maternity leave. She was hired as a full-time teacher the 2nd half of the school year. Lillian moved to a Kindergarten position at Indian Neck School when Sharon Dixon moved to a different grade level. She taught there until the Mary T. Murphy School opened. That was the school she retired from.
She also used her extensive special education background to serve the needs of all students. She always looked at the individual needs of each child and planned instruction for each. Her calm nature created a welcoming learning environment to all children and families. Lillian had a very special way with English Language Learning (ELL) families that made them feel welcome and safe. Many came to her class with no English. Her ELL students learned from her soft-spoken ways and kindness. She welcomed all students and loved having all the many students she had. Her classroom was a rainbow of diversity.
Lillian helped rewrite the Kindergarten curriculum with Kathy Nelson, Sharon McKinnel and Rita Hennessey. She also worked on science and math curriculum throughout her years of teaching. Lillian frequently attended week long summer workshops to learn new ways of engaging the children in meaningful learning. Lillian attended many of the Kindergarten/Preschool Round Table meetings. She also tutored students during the summer vacations or after school hours. Lillian helped out when the PTA (Parent and Teacher Association) offered after school enrichment by teaching crafts, as well as teaming with Dotty Young to teach nature classes.
Lillian has one son, Christopher Fike. He, his wife Kelly and their two children, Tyler, age 5 and Madison, age 2, live in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Lillian enjoys time spent with her family members, traveling, sewing, reading and cooking.
Mary T. Murphy School was fortunate to have had Lillian as a lead kindergarten teacher for so many years. All her students benefited from her teaching and kindheartedness.
Letters of Nomination
Lillian taught for many years in kindergarten in several of Branford's elementary schools, ending her career at Murphy School. Lillian was visionary and ahead of many others with designing choice-centered centers in both literacy and math and connected science in her centers. Her students learned from her soft-spoken ways and kindness. She welcomed all students and loved having all the many ELL students she had. Many came to her class with no English. Her classroom was like a rainbow of diversity. Lillian deserves to be inducted into the Branford Hall of Fame - kindergarten and children were her life! Please consider inducting her this year.
We would like to nominate Lillian Fike. to be inducted into the Educational Hall of Fame due to the following reasons:
She was the forerunner in the following areas:
Differentiation - she always looked at the individual needs of each child and planned instruction for each child. She began reading conferences well before it was an expected practice.
Her calm nature created a welcoming learning environment to all children and families. Lillian had a very special way with ELL families that made them feel welcome and safe. She also used her extensive special education. background to serve the needs of all students.
Her classroom was always exciting with much hands-on learning in all areas , especially with math and science. As colleagues, she was always supportive, shared ideas and welcomed new ideas and initiatives.
Finally, Lillian was "Pinterest" to us before "Pinterest" existed.
She was the forerunner in the following areas:
Differentiation - she always looked at the individual needs of each child and planned instruction for each child. She began reading conferences well before it was an expected practice.
Her calm nature created a welcoming learning environment to all children and families. Lillian had a very special way with ELL families that made them feel welcome and safe. She also used her extensive special education. background to serve the needs of all students.
Her classroom was always exciting with much hands-on learning in all areas , especially with math and science. As colleagues, she was always supportive, shared ideas and welcomed new ideas and initiatives.
Finally, Lillian was "Pinterest" to us before "Pinterest" existed.
I would like to nominate Lillian Fike for induction to the Branford Education Hall of Fame. My son, (now a High School Senior) had the privilege of having Mrs. Fike as his Kindergarten Teacher. As many of you have experienced it is both an exciting and stressful time when your first born goes to school. In our case, we had an additional concern, having just found out our son was allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts. Mrs. Fike was the most understanding teacher, assuring us her classroom would be a safe place for my son. I felt comfortable every day leaving my son in her care. Aside from that, Mrs. Fike is an excellent teacher. Her calm demeanor and positive attitude lend itself to a wonderful working environment. She sparked interests in her students and made them learn to love school. Everyday my son would come off the bus excited to tell me something new he had learned. As a parent, I could not have asked for a better teacher. Mrs. Fike's communication skills were superb and she always was welcoming to have me volunteer in her classroom. There is no better teacher to nominate than Lillian Fike. Mary T. Murphy school was lucky to have her and so were we.