Mayor Torigian spearheaded the creation of the Peabody Education Council (known today as the Peabody Education Foundation) in 1985. At that time, Mayor Torigian felt there was a large gap between what the school budget could provide and what the students needed. His original idea has grown and developed over the years into a tremendous community resource. His guidance and extreme love for the school children of Peabody remains prevalent in the hearts of the PEF Board of Directors. The PEF administers a variety of programs/events, including the Grants Program, the Mental Wellness Initiative, Peabody Cares, and the Cara E. Murtagh Memorial Scholarship.

Mayor Torigian’s enthusiasm remains with all of us and has inspired the PEF to make significant strides to continually offer programs to encourage creativity and inspiration in Peabody’s students. Mayor Torigian was a tireless advocate and relentless champion for the improvement of Peabody Public Schools, dedicating his life to enriching the lives of students and contributing immeasurably to the city he loved. It is an honor to present the family of Mayor Peter Torigian with a George Peabody Legacy Award.

Jill Houlden is a third-grade teacher at the McCarthy School. She began her teaching career at St. John’s School in Peabody with our beloved Superintendent Cara Murtagh in 1997. Jill left St. John’s and spent a few years at the Witchcraft School in Salem, but eventually moved back to the Welch School in 2014. Working with Jill, it is easy to see how dedicated she is every single day. Jill crafted the idea of making blankets for students in need while working at the Welch School and opted to do it for students at the McCarthy School when she transferred. In the fall of 2023, Jill thought it would be nice to make blankets for students in need across the district. She sought funding from the PEF for the blanket project and swiftly organized a community-wide effort to create and deliver blankets as Christmas gifts for K-12 students in need.

Jill is also known for her passion for teaching her students about George Peabody, inspiring them to ‘be like George’ with enthusiasm. She brings this education to her students yearly and excites them to learn about philanthropy and giving back to your community. She was also the brains behind the PEF Birthday Book Program. This district wide program was originally started at the Welch school in Jill’s third grade classroom. It was so well received that the PEF adopted the idea and funded it for all elementary schools throughout the city. Jill always puts the needs of her students first. She is a tireless advocate for the betterment of Peabody schools and remains a positive influence on her students and the community in which she lives.

Mr. Manning was a long time Peabody educator who began his career teaching social studies at the Welch School. He eventually transitioned to the Higgins Middle School where he shared his passion for social studies with students through engaging and inspiring activities. Mr. Manning was instrumental in building a community of learners. He organized numerous field days and special activities, giving students the chance to collaborate and develop new skills. He also originated the infamous yearly trips to Washington DC! Mr. Manning made a bigger impact on students as a Guidance Counselor at the Middle School. He helped students develop organizational skills and provided support through tutoring, counseling, and being a compassionate listener whenever they needed one. He was consistently engaging and a dedicated advocate for his students.

Mr. Manning played a pivotal role in maintaining the exceptional teacher morale at Higgins Middle School for decades. Colleagues fondly remember his steak and lobster thank-you dinners, which fostered a sense of camaraderie, turning coworkers into friends. As a mentor, he led by example, demonstrating professionalism and a passion for learning and teaching, while reminding everyone that they were part of a united academic community.