2024 Maroon and Grey Celebration Lynne Sanders

In her 38 years in education—31 of them in SCASD—Lynne Sanders was a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and a principal, and helped to start an award-winning internship program for student teachers.

“I loved working in the school district,” Lynne said. “And I guess you could say I had longevity.”  After teaching for five years at Radio Park Elementary, she became one of the first Title 1 teachers in 1975, teaching at Houserville Elementary while earning her Master’s at Penn State, then going on to earn her administrator certificate.

In her 38 years in education—31 of them in SCASD—Lynne Sanders was a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and a principal, and helped to start an award-winning internship program for student teachers.

“I loved working in the school district,” Lynne said. “And I guess you could say I had longevity.”  After teaching for five years at Radio Park Elementary, she became one of the first Title 1 teachers in 1975, teaching at Houserville Elementary while earning her Master’s at Penn State, then going on to earn her administrator certificate.

Lynne served as principal at four different State College schools throughout her career—Radio Park Elementary (twice!), Matternville, Panorama and Boalsburg. She also worked for a superintendent for a time, helping to plan Mount Nittany Middle School in Boalsburg by doing community outreach. She recalls working for many years with Dr. Whitaker and Dr. Babcock.

Before she retired, Lynne wanted to help prepare a new generation of teachers. She helped to start an innovative, yearlong internship program at Penn State for elementary student teachers called the Professional Development School. “It was a wonderful program,” she said. “We had students for a full year and, at the end, they had their choice of teaching jobs across the country. We placed teachers in some of the best schools in Virginia, Texas, and California. Although it no longer exists, the program won national awards.”  

Despite her long career in education, Lynne had wanted to go to law school after she graduated from high school in 1960. She studied education “on the side” at Muskingum College (now University) in Ohio. For a year after she graduated from college, she taught in Beaver County, PA, then took a short detour: “I moved to California for a year and lived on the beach with my sorority sisters,” she said.

Lynne moved to State College in 1970 when her first husband enrolled at Penn State to earn his doctorate. After they separated, she stayed in the area. In 1980, she married Gilbert Sanders, an aeronautical engineer. “We were married for 38½ wonderful years,” she said. Gilbert passed away in 2018. Lynne’s stepson Mark and daughter-in-law live nearby.

“I think it’s nice that the school district honors individuals and I’m very appreciative that they would include me,” she said about being inducted into the Maroon & Gray Society.  

In her 38 years in education—31 of them in SCASD—Lynne Sanders was a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and a principal, and helped to start an award-winning internship program for student teachers.

“I loved working in the school district,” Lynne said. “And I guess you could say I had longevity.”  After teaching for five years at Radio Park Elementary, she became one of the first Title 1 teachers in 1975, teaching at Houserville Elementary while earning her Master’s at Penn State, then going on to earn her administrator certificate.

Lynne served as principal at four different State College schools throughout her career—Radio Park Elementary (twice!), Matternville, Panorama and Boalsburg. She also worked for a superintendent for a time, helping to plan Mount Nittany Middle School in Boalsburg by doing community outreach. She recalls working for many years with Dr. Whitaker and Dr. Babcock.

Before she retired, Lynne wanted to help prepare a new generation of teachers. She helped to start an innovative, yearlong internship program at Penn State for elementary student teachers called the Professional Development School. “It was a wonderful program,” she said. “We had students for a full year and, at the end, they had their choice of teaching jobs across the country. We placed teachers in some of the best schools in Virginia, Texas, and California. Although it no longer exists, the program won national awards.”  

Despite her long career in education, Lynne had wanted to go to law school after she graduated from high school in 1960. She studied education “on the side” at Muskingum College (now University) in Ohio. For a year after she graduated from college, she taught in Beaver County, PA, then took a short detour: “I moved to California for a year and lived on the beach with my sorority sisters,” she said.

Lynne moved to State College in 1970 when her first husband enrolled at Penn State to earn his doctorate. After they separated, she stayed in the area. In 1980, she married Gilbert Sanders, an aeronautical engineer. “We were married for 38½ wonderful years,” she said. Gilbert passed away in 2018. Lynne’s stepson Mark and daughter-in-law live nearby.

“I think it’s nice that the school district honors individuals and I’m very appreciative that they would include me,” she said about being inducted into the Maroon & Gray Society.  

incipal at four different State College schools throughout her career—Radio Park Elementary (twice!), Matternville, Panorama and Boalsburg. She also worked for a superintendent for a time, helping to plan Mount Nittany Middle School in Boalsburg by doing community outreach. She recalls working for many years with Dr. Whitaker and Dr. Babcock.

Before she retired, Lynne wanted to help prepare a new generation of teachers. She helped to start an innovative, yearlong internship program at Penn State for elementary student teachers call

ed the Professional Development School. “It was a wonderful program,” she said. “We had students for a full year and, at the end, they had their choice of teaching jobs across the country. We placed teachers in some of the best schools in Virginia, Texas, and California. Although it no longer exists, the program won national awards.”  

Despite her long career in education, Lynne had wanted to go to law school after she graduated from high school in 1960. She studied education “on the side” at Muskingum College (now University) in Ohio. For a year after she graduated from college, she taught in Beaver County, PA, then took a short detour: “I moved to California for a year and lived on the beach with my sorority sisters,” she said.

Lynne moved to State College in 1970 when her first husband enrolled at Penn State to earn his doctorate. After they separated, she stayed in the area. In 1980, she married Gilbert Sanders, an aeronautical engineer. “We were married for 38½ wonderful years,” she said. Gilbert passed away in 2018. Lynne’s stepson Mark and daughter-in-law live nearby.

“I think it’s nice that the school district honors individuals and I’m very appreciative that they would include me,” she said about being inducted into the Maroon & Gray Society.