Health and PE Teacher celebrates 40 years, and is YMCA Educator of Year nominee

It is a momentous day for Physical Education and Health Teacher Roxanne Grover.

Forty years ago today, she started her first day as a teacher at Whittier Tech, and tonight she will be honored as a nominee for the YMCAs Educator of the Year.

Ms. Grover, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, began her career in 1977 as a fitness and gymnastics instructor at Haverhill YMCA before being hired at Whittier. An influential department head for the past 12 years, she has been responsible for numerous initiatives to benefit the wellness of students.

She is an advisor to Whittier’s Peer to Peer Program and with students has organized the Walk for Hunger to benefit Project Bread, food drives to benefit Our Neighbors Table, a Walk to End Domestic Violence and many other events. She has also helped to organized Whittier’s annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society, drug and alcohol awareness programs for students and parents and bullying prevention seminars for students and staff.

“I have been continually impressed with her driving commitment to excellence,” said Kelly Fay, Whittier’s Director of Curriculum who nominated Ms. Grover for the award. “Roxanne is uncompromising in her quest for quality educational opportunities for the whole student, and she never loses sight of her students and their needs. Roxanne is a true team player and she is a valued member of our school community and the Haverhill community overall.”

Ms. Grover will be honored with other nominees from Haverhill High at a dinner tonight at Northern Essex Community College where the Educator of the Year will be announced.