Red Hook celebrates NY's longest active teacher with Guinness Record pending

For more than six decades, the Red Hook Central School District community has known how special it is to have Linden Avenue Middle School teacher Martha Strever in its classrooms.

This fall, the district is celebrating Martha’s 64th year of service while taking steps to help the world understand her impact on Red Hook students and faculty.

Martha is the longest-serving active teacher in New York, according to records submitted by school districts annually to the state Education Department, and is the longest active member of New York State United Teachers. Her time at LAMS officially began in 1961, before Red Hook High School or Mill Road elementary were built, though she also was a student-teacher at the school the previous year. In 1971 she became Red Hook’s math department chair – the district’s first female department head – a position she held for 49 years.

In August, LAMS submitted an application to Guinness World Records to confirm and recognize she is the owner of two records: the longest teaching career in one school and the longest career for a female math teacher. The district expects to receive a response to those applications by December.

Her impact on the school community is immeasurable. A memorable figure for thousands of students who have passed through the district, Martha has been known as a meticulous math teacher with a warm disposition and an expectation students give their all in the classroom, which has set a tone for student achievement in all areas. Many a student has also recognized Martha’s style – she’s rarely repeated an outfit through the course of a school year and can only be found wearing anything but a dress or skirt on annual field days. She’s taught students’ children, and students’ children’s children.

However, the most tangible representation of Martha’s career’s impact may be in the district faculty itself. More than a colleague whose experience has benefited dozens, if not hundreds, of young educators, Martha herself taught many members of the staff, including Principal Stacie Fenn Smith.

“Martha has made a lasting impact on thousands of students and educators,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden said. “We deeply appreciate the commitment and joy Martha brings to the classroom every day.”

Now a math teacher for students with special needs alongside co-teacher Christopher Wood, Martha plans to continue making a difference for students for years to come.

Martha’s landmark career was highlighted Thursday in Education Week. Media outlets seeking to speak with Martha can contact Red Hook Public Information Officer Mike Benischek at MBenischek@RHCSD.org.