After leaving her position at the York County Jail in Alfred, Couture joined Biddeford Adult Education 19 years ago to assist adult learners at all levels from non-English speaking immigrants to those seeking to pass the High School Equivalency Test.
“Sr. Theresa brings a unique perspective, not personally as a Catholic nun, but as an advocate for those who are down-trodden,” said Biddeford Adult Education Director Paulette Bonneau. “She consistently motivates, encourages, uplifts and inspires both staff and students. We are extremely fortunate to have someone who is so dedicated and genuinely concerned about helping others to improve their lives through educational opportunities.”
The Biddeford Adult Education staff wrote in their nomination, “Sr. Theresa’s years of experience in the educational field provide an abundance of wisdom and ideas. She always has the right words for those who need a lift or some advice. She provides continuous learning opportunities by opening our minds to new ways of viewing problems as well as alternative ways to address them.
“Her wisdom and vision motivate us all to work harder. One would think that a teacher who is 83 would lack the ability, interest and willingness to relate and give of her heart and soul to students and faculty. This is definitely not the case of our Sr. Theresa. Everyone that has had the privilege of meeting her is forever changed by her positive energy, kind nature, and humorous manner.”
Her caring demeanor goes far beyond the classroom, as she establishes partnerships to start programs which have, and continue to, greatly benefit students. They include a weekly knitting program in which a group of women gather and knit hundreds of items to help those in the community; joining forces with Biddeford Adult Educations’ First Teachers Family Literacy and a local charitable organization to shop for age-appropriate toys and clothing for children of less-fortunate Adult Education students at Christmas; and coordinating a bi-weekly breakfast provided by a local church.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less