Mrs. Lorrie Mancino began at North Penn when there were typewriters, no K-pod, and no email. She is closing out her 30 years of dedicated work with updated technology, and an impact that will never be forgotten.

Mancino is currently the vice principal’s secretary in D103. She hasn’t always been there though. She moved around many times, but that never dimmed her light.

“I started before K-pod was built, back when there were typewriters. We didn’t even have email addresses. I was in an office that was one big office, I just helped out with different teachers, and we had all the bulletins printed, and we just put them in all the mailboxes,” Mancino explained.

“Then they created a new position when they built K-pod to have a receptionist. So it was me, the principal, and the principal’s secretary in that whole office. I was at that big desk before they even built another office there. I was there for around five years I think,” Mancino said.

As time went on and North Penn changed, Mancino went from a receptionist at the front door to a home office secretary. She always handled her moves with grace, and resilience.

“Back then where the future plans center is now, was K106. They built a wall in the hallway, and they put a table, and a phone. That was all we had, no chairs, nothing when it first started. They put in a principal’s assistant, principal, guidance counselors, attendance secretary, and me as the assistant principal secretary,” Mancino said.

The move wasn’t over yet for Mancino; her journey to D103 was still a ways away.

“Since then, I was in K106, then I went to A32. From there I went to F40 for 16 years. That was my home [F40] I had many different assistant principals. Then at the beginning of last year they moved me to D103. Since 2002 I’ve been an assistant principal secretary though,” Mancino explained.

After being here 30 years Mancino decided it was time to retire, and that she was ready.

“I decided to retire because I just feel like it’s time. In my heart I just love the students, it’s always been a hard decision for me to make. I really thought I would never retire, I just thought it was something that would never happen. I do feel it’s time though,” Mancino said.

As much as Mancino is going to miss her time here at North Penn, there are plenty of things she’s looking forward to.

“I’m most excited about not setting my alarm. Also being able to help with my nine grandchildren. The youngest two are ten, and the oldest is nineteen. Just to be able to go to their games because they all play sports, and not rush as much,” Mancino added.

During her 30 years here there were some instances that stuck with her, and will continue to stay with her for life.

“The closeness with the students was so memorable. I had this one student that graduated in 2001, I still talk with him. He is a lawyer now, but he missed 60 days of school his senior year because he was in trouble all the time. When he got his diploma from law school he copied it, framed it, and brought it to me,” Mancino explained.

Even though she very well impacted that student’s life and many more students. She still holds true to the fact that they impact her much more.

“They always say I couldn’t have done it without you, but I promise they would have been fine without me. A lot of the students impact me more than I impact them. You just see some of their strength, and you know what’s happening. It’s always been very important to me to think about what happened to them before they walked in this building. They could be angry, they could be upset, you have no idea. It should always be a consideration of them first as you have no idea what happened,” Mancino said.

Besides spending time with her family after retirement and sleeping in a little bit more, Mancino wants to travel.

“I really want to travel, but that probably won’t start till next year. I want to go to Ireland because I have family there, and I’ve never been there yet. What I really want is to see the United States first,” Mancino said.

Mancino has done more for this school than she lets on, and deserves retirement. After graduating from North Penn in 1977, and then coming back to work for 30 years. She also worked at the visitor stand selling football game tickets for 25 years. Another 10 years of her career was also spent working the high jump for track and field.

Lorrie Mancino will be missed not just for her hard work, but also for her amazing personality, impact on every student who greets her, and her optimistic attitude that she carries with her everyday. While she’s closing her chapter at North Penn, she’s starting a new one that she couldn’t deserve more.