Last year at the Special Olympics. From Left Michelle Dowling, former Life Skills student Courtney Burns, and Pauline Roberge

Earlier this year, Pauline Roberge announced that she will be retiring from her job in Life Skills and  today is her last day.

The good news is that we have the opportunity to hear what wonderful things her colleagues have to say.

Roberge has been changing lives in Life Skills for many years and is excited to spend time with her grandchild when she retires. 

 Patricia Carlson has been working with Roberge for 18 years. She said she has had a fantastic experience working with her. She describes Roberge as extremely reliable, responsible, and a great example for her students and a true role model.

Carlson said they began as job coaches for adult life skills students.

CTEi Director Daniel Bachant first came to know Roberge because of her husband John. The two had been good friends for over 20 years and Bachant said Roberge is a “great friend and a great mom.” 

Roberge is a Gold Star mother, having lost her oldest son Jonathan during the Iraq War. She has been involved outside of school in Veterans activities and with the creation of the Johnnie Ro Memorial Park on Mechanic Street in Leominster. 

Life Skills worker Laurie Nelson met Roberge in an ABA classroom at FLACC. Nelson says Roberge’s best quality is her inability to not stop working, and how kindhearted she is.

Roberge worked in CTEI as a paraprofessional for almost 30 years. Many days you see her grocery shopping with her students or doing dishes in culinary whenever the restaurant is open. She is great with kids, and a good person, said Nelson, who added that working with Roberge has been a wonderful 26 years. 

Everyone interviewed will miss working with her and seeing her kind face in the building.