About ADL
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Albert D. Lawton School
104 Maple Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452We serve about 360 students from the Village of Essex Junction and some surrounding communities in grades 6, 7 and 8.
Phone: 802-878-1388
Fax: 802-879-8175School Hours (for students): 8:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Library Hours: 8:15 AM – 3:30 PM
ADL’s Mission
What we do everyday matters. We are here to grow a vibrant community of caring, connected, and inspired learners.
ADL’s Vision
We will foster the love of learning and belief of self in a safe, healthy and caring environment.
We will value and respect the contributions of all members of our learning community by collaborating and connecting with each other.
We will utilize research-based strategies to promote individual growth and encourage positive contributions to the global society.
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History of Albert D. Lawton IS
Our building, which opened in 1957 as Essex Junction High School, was dedicated to Mr. Albert D. Lawton, Superintendent of School from 1935 to 1957.
Mr. Lawton was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College. During his 39-year career in Vermont education, he taught at Lyndon Institute, was principal at Chester High School, supervising principal at Proctor, Superintendent of Windsor Northwest District and Superintendent of Chittenden Central District.
He maintained residence in the Village of Essex Junction where he had long been one of the community’s leading citizens.
As we begin celebrating our 60th year of serving students, we wish to recognize the foresight and wisdom of the man who, more than any other, advocated the kind of educational opportunity designed to accommodate the needs of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
Subsequent regional and national endorsement of the role of the middle school has upheld Mr. Lawton’s contention that very special people need their own special educational environment.
On June 15, 1970, the Prudential Committee of Essex Junction Graded School District granted unanimous approval to the recommendation that, henceforth, ours be designated the Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School.
This act is testament to the community’s esteem for one of Vermont’s most distinguished educators.
A reception honoring Mr. Lawton was held at the school on May 10, 1971.
Friends, professional and lay colleagues, administrators, faculty and students were among the invited guests who witnessed the unveiling of Mr. Lawton’s portrait, which now hangs in the foyer of the gymnasium.
On March 21, 1973, Mr. and Mrs. Lawton were honored guests at the School Seal Dedication exercises.
At this time, the designer, Joseph B.Roque, presented Mr. Lawton a hand executed copy mounted and framed, of the official school seal.
Albert D. Lawton died on February 24, 1981 at the age of 88.
He will be remembered by generations of children and adults for the fine human being that he was and for his thoughtful, significant contribution to public education.
To those who will never know him, his legacy is an educational concept that well serves an important segment of our greater society, a working concept that has admirably withstood the rigors of time and trial.
