LYNN — Joan Wiendczak proudly wears the cheerleading uniform she wore when she was in high school. That wouldn’t seem too unusual except that she wore it in 1972 — when she graduated from Classical High School.
She’s been known to wear that uniform at Classical pep rallies, where she taught for more than 40 years, before taking her physical education show on the road in the Lynn Public Schools as a floating instructor. She will do anything, say anything, act in any way that she feels will brighten a student’s day and make all the kids who she teaches feel comfortable and loved.
Her teaching career has spanned superintendents J. Leo McGuinness, George Laubner, James Leonard, James Mazareas, Nicholas Kostan, Catherine Latham and Patrick Tutwiler. At this point in her life, she says, she sits alone on top of the city’s seniority list for teachers.
“This has never been work to me,” said Wiendczak, who has been in the school system since 1977. “I was eligible to retire many years ago, but as Al Pacino said in my favorite movie (“The Godfather”), ‘just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.'”
She certainly does not keep her infectious enthusiasm under a bushel basket, to quote the Gospel of St. Matthew. Athletic Director Bill Devin — a former pupil of hers — calls Wiendczak “Lynn Classical’s most famous cheerleader.”
But there’s method to her seeming madness — especially when it comes to teaching kids to be healthy.
“Health is holistic,” she said. “It’s a combination of body, mind and spirit. Having a health background, and a science background, makes me more aware of how you need to take care of your body:”
Joan (Vlahos) Wiendczak grew up on Waterhill Street in Lynn, a stone’s throw from where Lynn athletic legend Harry Agganis lived. After graduating from Classical, she began her career as a dental hygienist. And despite the extra challenge of learning how to do everything right-handed that she was accustomed to doing with her other hand (at dental school, the tools could only be used by right-handers, she said), she persevered and began working in her chosen field.
However, she said, she always wanted to teach, so while working as a hygienist, she earned her teaching degree and began teaching biology at Classical. From there, she branched out, starting a cardiovascular program in the school system. And she didn’t ditch her old profession either. She started a dental program at Classical, and for many years was a practicing hygienist in Lynn while she taught.
She has her own views on the nature of physical education in schools, in general.
“Right now, in this country, the calibre of physical education is dependent upon the teacher who’s teaching it,” she said. “I would love to get in front of a group of kids and just talk about health, and about nutrition, hygiene and exercise.
“For example,” she said, “when did we all have to be reminded to wash our hands?”
If all this makes her sound like somewhat of a fanatic when it comes to physical health, that assumption would be correct. She is.
“I try to teach by example,” she said. “I’ve never had a cup of coffee (though she’ll drink tea), never smoked, never been one to take even a Tylenol. I can’t take Ibuprofen. I just try to live healthy.”
And stay fit.
Last Friday, during a photo session, she performed leg lifts, did hula hoops and jumped rope. She prides herself on having a keen sense of fun. During the pandemic, she taught special needs children and made the costumes for different holidays. She could be seen encouraging her students, via Zoom, to do their exercises.
“I have always made it a point to lift spirits wherever and however I can,” said Wiendczak. “Say a nice word, or give a nice smile, or share a joke, or give them some word of encouragement. That might be the only smile or only word of encouragement they get that entire day.”
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].