Encourager, inspiring, joyful, dedicated, kind. These are all words used by friends and fellow educators to describe the late Martha Claire Kennedy Fitzner. The teacher of more than 30 years — the last 18 of them at her alma mater, Heritage Academy — passed away unexpectedly in September 2015. Fewer than seven months later, Heritage’s “Building on Excellence” capital campaign is 87 percent of the way to its goal of $1.5 million to break ground on Martha Claire Kennedy Fitzner Hall and complete several other objectives. The campaign is in its final push.
National Teacher Appreciation Week May 2-6 is a fitting time to remember and celebrate the beloved first-grade teacher, friends say. Fitzner’s own graduating class of 1975 spearheaded the establishment of a memorial fund to honor the HA alumna and parent. Fitzner Hall is a partner project of the class and the capital campaign.
“Heritage Academy has been a part of Martha Claire’s life as a student, teacher and parent,” said Fitzner’s father, Ken Kennedy Jr., on behalf of himself and his wife, Nancy. “We appreciate her Class of 1975 and the capital campaign for its endeavor to honor her by having the building named in her memory. The students, parents and her fellow teachers and the administration have all been so kind, caring and compassionate.”
Fitzner’s son, Thomas, 22, is a Heritage graduate, like his mother and his father, Arthur Fitzner.
“My mom absolutely adored kids and loved being able to help teach them and be around them every day,” said Thomas Fitzner. “We were honored they would want to remember her in such a special way.”
Building the future
Fitzner Hall is the largest project associated with the current capital campaign. When all phases are finished, it will provide a student dining facility, food prep kitchen, music classroom and additional space for fine arts.
“Mom loved to cook and feed others, especially the ones she loved, so it seems like a perfect fit to have her spirit involved in the new cafeteria,” Thomas said.
The new building will eliminate existing portable structures currently housing music and art classrooms. It also will allow the Student Activities Building to revert from dining area to space for indoor physical education, including Pee Wee sports and high school after-hours sports practice, as well as activities such as Boy Scouts and after-school care.
Other campaign goals include a new science and math wing, technology infrastructure enhancements and athletic facility improvements. Some elements have already been completed.
Tommy and Brenda Howard chair the capital campaign. Dr. David and Pat Curtis, and Ron and Nancy Harper serve as co-chairs.
“Early giving has exceeded expectations,” Tommy Howard said. “We are getting very close to achieving our campaign goal but need a concerted effort to reach the finish line. We can’t break ground on Fitzner Hall until we reach 100 percent of our goal. No donation is too small.”
The “Building on Excellence” campaign was already in motion at the time of Fitzner’s passing. She was serving as co-chair of the campaign’s faculty/staff committee and was integral to the teachers’ 100 percent involvement with pledges and gifts. It was typical of her willingness to support the school.
“With her unexpected passing, there was just an outpouring from her classes and from her graduating Class of 1975,” said Carlyle. “We just wanted to do something special for her. Fitzner Hall is a signature project that honors her legacy of character and faith and excellence as an educator.”
Heart for children
Before coming to teach at Heritage, Fitzner taught elementary students in Florida and at Warden-Carden, Franklin Academy and Stokes-Beard School in Columbus. She had a big heart for little children.
“She was just probably the most caring teacher that I’ve ever worked with,” said HA Elementary Principal Cindy Wamble. “She just loved the kids, loved being around them. She got involved in their lives, making sure they had whatever they needed.”
Wamble said it is difficult to express how much Fitzner gave of herself.
“She was so unselfish, gave not just her time, but gave her heart to the kids, and to this job and to the other teachers,” she said. “We still feel her; she’s still here in spirit.”
Within sight
With the campaign currently at $1.3 million of the $1.5 million goal, anticipation is high for a groundbreaking in the not-too-distant future.
“We’re very excited about this project,” said Tommy Howard. “And once we do start breaking ground, we hope it’s just the beginning of what’s ahead as far as continuing to build on the infrastructure and new facilities.” The effort is an investment in current students and those to come in years ahead.
At the heart of that investment are children, and educators like Fitzner.
“She’s always been an inspiration to her students and the staff and faculty that have worked with her,” said Carlyle. “For us to be able to honor her legacy in this way through the building, we’ll have a daily reminder of her, and that’s really special to us.”
Editor’s note: For information about making a tax-deductible contribution to the capital campaign, contact Heritage Academy Director of Development Jennifer Brady at 662-327-5272 or email [email protected]
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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