Retired Syracuse teacher proves it’s never too late to learn

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify Lorraine Morganti’s teaching titles at H.W. Smith Pre-K-8 School and James A. Shea Middle School.

On the night of Lorraine Morganti’s graduation, nearly 60 people gathered in a quiet, dimly lit room on the first floor of the downtown YMCA. Morganti was overwhelmed with nerves as her children sat in the front row, paying close attention while she revealed themes of family and nature in her final poems. 

A live poetry reading at the Downtown Writer’s Center (DWC) marked Morganti’s completion of her two-year intensive Master of Fine Arts program. At 82 years old, Morganti holds three degrees, but she doesn’t plan on pumping the brakes on her learning any time soon. 

“I did the program because it was a goal,” Morganti said. “It was a goal that I had and I accomplished it.”

Born and raised in Syracuse, Morganti spent her entire life involved in local academia and community building. Some know her as an acclaimed teacher in the Syracuse City School District, others as a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer for the past 30 years. 

Morganti, then a sixth-grade teacher, earned a 2011 Educator of the Year award for her efforts in helping children, many of whom spoke English as a second language, learn English through poetry at H.W. Smith K-8 School. But the recognition didn’t scratch the itch she had for more formal education in poetry.

Morganti’s husband supported her through her career in education, but when he unexpectedly died in 2000, she found poetry as an outlet for healing. 

“It took a long time before I was even able to do any writing about it,” Morganti said. “But, with grieving, poetry helped to put it on paper. It helped to see him as the beautiful person he was.” 

With a newfound purpose, Morganti said she wanted to keep evolving in her writing. Morganti said she was hesitant at first to enroll in a master’s program for creative writing, despite already having completed a master’s in education from Syracuse University.

“Somehow you don’t think you’re worthy of it,” Morganti said. 

To overcome her own doubts and satisfy an ever-growing itch for knowledge, Morganti joined the Writer’s Voice PRO program at the DWC. 

The PRO program prepares adult writers to publish their creative work. 

“I have always been impressed by how open-minded she is and the extent to which she’s willing to really try anything,” said Philip Memmer, district executive director of DWC programs and activities.

Morganti said her intent with the PRO program wasn’t to get published, but to better understand her emotions by honing in on her writing skills. 

“I never ran a race, but I’m sure if you ran a race you must feel the same way,” Morganti said. “Like, ‘Wow, I did it, and I didn’t think I could.’” 

Morganti was already a regular at the DWC before the PRO program. She said she’s taken around 75 classes, attended numerous seminars and been a member of the DWC’s book club for decades. 

Georgia Popoff, a workshop coordinator and Morganti’s advisor at the DWC, met Morganti while she was still teaching at H.W. Smith Middle School.

For over 20 years, Morganti sprinkled creative expression into the curriculum wherever she could. While working as a sixth-grade teacher at James A. Shea Middle School, she and Popoff built a strong friendship while collaborating on a grant that integrated poetry into science after she noticed her students were lacking language skills and ways to express their feelings. 

Working alongside Popoff, Morganti took her students to local parks to observe nature and transform their findings into poetry. The results, Morganti said, were incredible.

“We were in a tough situation because it was a failing school, so, [the kids] made these beautiful pictures and labeled them in their own unique ways,” Morganti said. “I put them all up in the hall. Nobody had anything in the hall.”

Photo by Remi Turner

Books inside Morganti’s home highlight her love for poetry and literature.

Whether in class or at home, poetry allowed Morganti to connect with her community and her most complex emotions. 

“Writing is the one thing I do for me,” said Morganti.

Her love for creative writing became infectious, rapidly spreading throughout her family and friends. 

Dominic Morganti, one of Morganti’s grandsons said that witnessing her live poetry reading made him take the profoundness and level of insight she has a little less for granted. 

“Sometimes you forget, like, ‘Wow this lady’s incredible,’ but seeing everyone else experience [her poetry] and the ‘oo’s’ and ‘ah’s’ she got added really remarkable depth to her writing,” Dominic said.

Dominic was not the only family member inspired by Morganti’s poetic talents. Two of Morganti’s nieces, began taking classes with her at the DWC. 

“Then a couple others hooked on, kind of snowballing. And I loved learning poetry,” said Morganti. “It changes your outlook on how you perceive things, how you see the world.” 

Morganti asked for one thing for birthday last year: a poem from each of her grandchildren. All 14 of them delivered. 

Dominic’s poem ended with the line, “And you told me that the ability to create was sacred.” 

Morganti keeps his poem propped on her dresser, it’s a reminder of her gratitude for her family.

“I took writing classes as electives in school, even though they weren’t my primary area of study,” said Dominic. “Because I wanted to grow in competency. Because of her.”

Morganti said she plans to enroll in more courses this fall and attend guest readings to freshen her skills. 

“She’s grown a great deal, as did her confidence,” said Popoff. “She’s an example of it’s never too late to learn.”

Apart from formal learning, Morganti continues to work on her poetry at home. One goal is to write a personalized poem for each of her five children –a memento that can be passed on for generations.

“She’s grown a great deal as has her confidence,” said Popoff. “She’s an example of it’s never too late to learn.”

When asked by one of her son-in-laws how she manages to share such personal things with everyone, Morganti explained that the reward was much greater than the risk. 

“It’s hard. It’s really hard,” said Morganti. “But you have to just put it all out there and find a way to connect with people.”