For Mrs.Lisa Krzemien, North Penn has never been just a workplace.

It’s where she found her calling again after stepping away from education for nearly 20 years. It’s where coworkers became a “second family”. It’s where students she once supported now stop to talk to her at events with children of their own. And it’s where everyday moments, which rarely feel big at the time, added up to more than two decades of a career she says she never could have fully walked away from until now.

And after 26 years at North Penn High School, it’s the place she now has to say goodbye to.

“North Penn has been like my second family,” Krzemien said. “The people that I work with are tremendous. Especially the Special ED department. We are family.”

Although retirement brings excitement, especially with a new grandchild on the way, stepping away from the students and coworkers she has spent years alongside is not easy.

“It’s a bittersweet retirement,” Krzemien said. “I’m looking forward to it. My son is having a baby, so I’m looking forward to spending time with my grandchildren, but I’m gonna miss the kids.”

Ask Krzemien what kept her motivated through the 26 years at North Penn, and the answer comes without hesitation.

“The kids. The Kids,” Krzemien said. “They’re the reason for everything.”

While education became her true calling, Krzemien’s path to North Penn was not exactly direct. After one year of college studying teaching, she stepped away to help run her family’s business for nearly 20 years before eventually finding herself back into education.

“I finally went back to the calling,” Krzemien reflected. “So, I came here, been doing that and loving it.”

Over 26 years in the district, 25 of them spent at the high school, Krzemien became a familiar face in nearly every corner of the building. As a paraprofessional in special education, no two days looked the same.

“I’m all over the building,” Krzemien laughed. “I can go from B-Pod to the gym, back to A-Pod. I’m all over the place.”

Whether assisting students in inclusion classrooms or working in an autistic support room, Krzemien said the variety of each day was part of what made the job so rewarding.

“I could be in math, I could be in English, biology, ecology,” Krzemien said. “I love it. I love working with all the teachers. I love seeing everyone.”

But over time, it was never just the schedule or the work itself that defined her experience, it was the relationships built along the way. The special education department, she said, became a second family in every sense of the word.

“When I tell you, they’re like a second family, they really are,” Krzemien said. “They’ve been through the good and bad times in my life and all these years.”

Rather than singling out individuals, Krzemien chose to reflect on the special education department as a whole, emphasizing the closeness of the people she worked beside every day.

“The special education department has been wonderful,” Krzemien said. “And I’m telling you, North Penn is a great place to work. The people are wonderful.”

Now, as she prepares to retire, those relationships are part of what makes leaving the most difficult.

It’s a transition she describes as both joyful and heavy at the same time. Excitement for what’s ahead, but gratitude for what she’s leaving behind.

Even then, Krzemien doesn’t see this as a full goodbye. She plans to stay involved as a substitute teacher and continue as the Italian Club advisor, a role she’s held for 18 years.

“So I’m going to keep my foot in the door,” Krzemien said. “Just not two, just one.”

Outside of school, Krzemien is most looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, something she already speaks about with excitement.

“My son has already assigned me two days a week when the baby’s born,” Krzemien joked. “My grandson’s eight now, and he’s the love of my life. So I can’t wait to be able to do more.”

Looking back on her career, some of Krzemien’s favorite moments have come long after students leave the school. Seeing former students grow into adults, parents, and successful people has reminded her of the impact she made over the years.

“One of the students that I had for three years, because I was in academic support, said to me, ‘Did you ever think we’d be hanging out at a fair with your grandson and my kids?’ And I’m like, ‘No, never thought this would happen’ But this is great, because then I know that I did make a difference.” Krzemien said.
”He’s doing great. You know, they’re all doing great. And we had that rapport that we actually could hang out.”

After more than two decades walking the halls of North Penn, Krzemien hopes the community remembers the care she brought to her role each day.

“Being a paraprofessional was never just a job,” Krzemien said. “It was a chance to make a difference every day.”