Sky’s the limit for Pittsfield teacher

PITTSFIELD — Turnabout is fair play, the saying goes. So when fifth-grade teacher Sherri Littlefield invited a parachutist into her classroom, it was only fair that the parachutist invite Littlefield to jump.

Littlefield took her first — and she said her only — parachute jump Thursday afternoon, to the cheers and shouts of her pupils. “Wow!” was Littlefield’s response after lightly touching down at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport. She jumped in tandem with Central Maine Skydivers instructor Richard Poulin from 10,000 feet, free-falling for half that distance.

The exchange began when Poulin visited Littlefield’s classroom at Warsaw Middle School to discuss parachute release systems. Littlefield had written a science and technology minigrant and her pupils had designed their own release systems.

Littlefield said Poulin told her after that visit, “I’ve been to your classroom. When are you coming to mine?”

After two delays because of bad weather, the jump went off like clockwork Thursday afternoon.

Gathered in a grassy field at the end of the runway were Littlefield’s teaching partner, Teresa Kane, her principal at Warsaw Middle School, Claton Corriveau, other teachers and staff and a large group of enthusiastic pupils. They cheered Littlefield on as she donned her jumpsuit and yelled encouragement when she boarded the plane, piloted by Bob Hart of Maine Flight Center.

“Jump! Jump! Jump!” the children shouted as the plane circled higher and higher, eventually almost disappearing from view. Two jumpers took the plunge at 5,000 feet — causing a stir among the pupils — but it wasn’t long before their teacher stepped out, hung onto the side of the plane, and then let go.

She and Poulin fell 5,000 feet in 40 seconds. Poulin said the speed reached 110 mph. Littlefield had the honor of pulling the ripcord to the parachute. The chute opened three seconds later, slowing the ride to 10 mph.

“It was beautiful up there,” said Littlefield, all smiles upon her landing. “It was so quiet and peaceful.” Littlefield’s landing was anything but peaceful, as her pupils raced to her side, laughing and giving her lots of “high fives.”

Poulin said Littlefield was one of about 100 new jumpers a year whom he instructs. “It is a really fast-growing sport.”

Littlefield said she was pleased she accepted the challenge to jump, but that she wouldn’t do it again. “It was great, but once was enough,” she said.