One local classroom will soon be welcoming back a teacher who was recently recognized with a national lifetime achievement award.
It’s Linden Avenue Middle School‘s Martha Strever, who has been a math teacher in Red Hook since 1961.
The district is the only one on her six-decade resume, and her time as an educator has made her a well-known fixture in the community, teaching generations of families.
Strever is also the longest active teacher in New York, according to records submitted by school districts annually to the state Education Department. She is in her 66th year of teaching and is the longest active member of New York State United Teachers.
Strever was one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year in 2025, and she was recently recognized on the national level again for her commitment to teaching.
She was presented with the American Federation of Teachers Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual convention in Washington, D.C., on July 17.
Strever, humble as ever, couldn’t believe when she first got the news in May that she’d be receiving this award and was honored.
She was hesitant to make the journey to Washington, D.C. at first but ended up having quite the summer adventure.
A once-in-a-lifetime award and trip: Strever took on Washington, D.C.
Linden Avenue Middle School Principal and Strever’s former student Stacie Fenn Smith accompanied her on the trip and was also one of the people who convinced her to go.
Strever said she doesn’t travel much anymore — not by bus, train or airplane — and knows her age is a big part of it.
Sure, she’ll get where she needs to go locally in her car, but a long drive to D.C. was daunting for her, especially with the thought of tunnels and bridges.
But Fenn Smith wasn’t going to let Strever pass up an opportunity like this, so she offered to drive Strever with the promise they’d avoid bridges and tunnels, like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, as much as possible.
There was a tunnel surprise, though, and it was too late to take or find another route. While in the tunnel, a semitruck stopped short, roared its horn, and turned sideways in front of Strever and Fenn Smith’s car. Everyone was OK, but the pair would encounter other moments of excitement throughout the trip.
They took a nighttime tour of the monuments, and Strever wanted to see the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial — she never had before, and the Roosevelts are close to Strever’s heart.
Born and raised in Hyde Park, where she still lives today, Strever graduated from the original Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, now Haviland Middle School. She worked summers in a gift shop across from the FDR Home to pay her tuition — she even had a few opportunities to wait on Eleanor Roosevelt while she was there.
The tour of the nation’s capital was running behind. Worried they would miss the monument, Strever and Fenn Smith hopped off and tracked it down on their own.
Afterward, the two took an Uber back — it was Strever’s first time trying the service.
There were other firsts, too. She tried Chick-Fil-A for the first time, learned what YOLO — you only live once — means and had her first green room experience.
Strever’s long career an inspiration to other teachers
To the makeup artist before the award ceremony, Strever was adamant she didn’t wear “rouge” and would apply her lipstick herself.
After Strever got her award, she and Fenn Smith never strayed too far from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, so many of the people they encountered were the thousands attending the conference.
“Anywhere we went after her announcement, people recognized her,” Fenn Smith said, whether it was to share congratulations, take a photo with Strever or ask whether Fenn Smith was Strever’s daughter.
“I’m sure she’s on multiple social media accounts,” Fenn Smith continued.
Others also came up to Strever, including one teacher from Alaska, who told her she’s an inspiration for them to continue teaching and stay in the classroom.
Strever said much of the conference surrounded motivating teachers to continue their careers and encouraging people to go into the profession.
In her own classroom, where boxes of her decorations are currently piled up, awaiting their special place, Strever hopes her students will learn to be proud of themselves.
Words of wisdom from a teacher who’s fit in ‘two careers’ of teaching
When Strever was being introduced on stage at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Jaime Ciffone, the executive vice president of New York State United Teachers, described Strever as someone who has “managed to fit more than two careers into one remarkable lifetime of service.”
For Strever, classroom management, being up to date and open to change, as well as talking to teachers from other districts are her biggest pieces of advice.
She described classroom management as “essential.” It’s a mutual respect, from student to teacher and teacher to student, including communication, guidance for the students and setting classroom expectations on day one of the school year.
Staying up on the latest in the teaching profession can look like many things, such as workshops and conferences, Strever said, which she recommends other teachers engage in.
In her own time at Linden Avenue Middle School, she’s led several initiatives and efforts. For instance, when computers first became widely available in the early 1980s, she was the teacher to begin computer education at the school.
Lastly, for speaking to teachers outside your district, Strever said this is a good way to share new ideas. You can learn new ways of approaching situations or share experiences from your own classroom.
Strever still isn’t planning on retiring
Looking back on the trip to Washington, D.C., Strever said Fenn Smith truly took care of her.
“My principal treated me like family,” Strever said.
But it’s not just Fenn Smith Strever has that kind of relationship with. She’s an only child and never had children. Her closest family is her second cousin.
For Strever, Linden Avenue Middle School is her family.
“We’ve known all along how special you are,” Fenn Smith said to Strever, “so it was really nice to be able to share that with other people. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.”
Strever’s mother once called her a “career person,” and it stuck.
As long as she is able to teach, Strever said she will continue to do so, even with over 930 sick days stacked up.
The new school year at Linden Avenue Middle School wouldn’t be the same without her.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: After 66 years, NY teacher earns lifetime achievement award
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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