By Carissa Dessin
Staff Writer
Over the winter recess, Assistant Principal John Norton said goodbye to Andover High School after 16 years of working here.
Norton created quite the legacy for himself, with all the great programs and opportunities he made for those in need, as well as his kindness to the students and staff. After hearing all the great things everyone had to say about him, Norton has definitely earned the title of “one of a kind.”
John Norton hits the ski slope shortly after retirement.
When Norton first arrived at AHS, he was a special education department head. The only problem being that there were fewer programs at Andover High to fully meet the needs of all learning profiles. Under Norton, this would be changed.
Seven years later Norton made the move to assistant principal, and in that time, had further developed numerous special education programs. An example is Excel, a self-contained program for students diagnosed with a developmental delay, intellectual impairment or other complex learning needs. Another program further developed was Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, a development of individualized programming for students that focus on building functional communication skills, positive behavior support, and social skills training. Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation of the Transitional Learning Center, or TLC, which supports student re-entries following periods of extended absence due to mental health and medical reasons. Finally, Norton developed the SAIL program for students who require modified academics at a pace appropriate for their learning level, including social and life skills. These only scratch the surface of what Norton did for the special education department.
Librarian John Berube stated that his favorite quality about Norton was how “[he brought] a sense of steadiness, a sense that there was somebody solid and dependable up above you that you could go to if you had a problem.”
This quality of Norton was also visible in his relationship with students. Social worker Abby Levin stated that he even gave her kids pep talks when she felt she wasn’t qualified to do so. “They always worked,” said Levin.
Norton was very close with Levin. One of Levin’s favorite memories with him was the retirement party she helped throw for him, in which about 80 guests showed up.
“We’re best friends,” she said, recounting their numerous memories of going to rock and roll concerts together, at one of which the two of them had the honor of meeting rock-and-roll legend Bruce Springsteen.
Though of course, Norton’s most prideful moment was not meeting a famous rock legend, but the work that he had done in this school.
“He used to be an engineer,” Levin explained. He had left the company that he was working for “because he had the heart of a [special education teacher]. He could feel that light coming from kids who couldn’t communicate and he could tap right into it.”
Assistant Principal Scott Darlington also commented on Norton’s empathy, mentioning “his extreme care for individual students and their unique situations.” Darlington added, “Mr. Norton always seemed a little strict at first, but he was actually the most caring of all of us administrators when it came to his students.”
Norton’s compassion and caring heart was seen all throughout AHS, some instances not even being school related. Art teacher Meghan Michaud shared one of her experiences with Norton, how she would bring her daughter into the building as a toddler, and they would “go see Mr. Norton and he would light up and be a totally different person. He had candy and crayons and I think that was a side of him that not many people got to see.”
It seemed like everywhere that Norton went in his career, his heart was always connected to IEP students. He had this compassion and empathy for them that everyone could see. He helped people “realize that every student has a different background, skill set, and ability level and to meet students at where they’re at,” said Michaud.
“[I’m going to miss] the people, the students and the staff,” said Norton shortly before he retired. This was not surprising considering his ability to connect with staff and students in a way that nobody else could — as if he had some sort of super power.
“That’s John Norton!” Levin exclaimed. “There’s nobody here like him. He’s one of a kind.”
