Maryellen, Educator, Mom of 3, SC
“What makes a good life is to laugh and to appreciate the little things and really just to take each day as it comes and know that each day is a gift and to not take things for granted.”
Maryellen is a full time resource teacher and administrator. She works tirelessly to inspire children to be better . She also has devoted her life to be a positive role model to students and to love them as her own. Maryellen was interviewed as part of a #Wando High School #schoolpartnership #studentvoice project with REENVISIONED, in which students interview each other and adults in their lives, and reflect together on school and what makes a good life. She was interviewed by her daughter, Erin.
Tell me about yourself, anything! Name, age, special qualities
My name is Maryellen and I am 48. I am a teacher. I have been a teacher for over 25 years. I have 3 daughters and I have lived and taught in 6 different states. I am a very compassionate person and I love education.
What is the most important thing in your life?
Family.
Define family.
Family is the core… its the core of someones being… and I think family has its ups and downs and highs and lows… and
family is a celebration… I think it is a celebration of life.
What do you value about your life and why is that important?
I value my health because without my health you cannot have much. Ya know, you can have all the money, all the fame, all the fortune in the world… but without your health, you cannot have anything.
What makes a good life?
What makes a good life is to laugh and to appreciate the little things and really just to take each day as it comes and know that each day is a gift and to not take things for granted.
Do you think people, parents, the community, teachers and students here at Wando agree with your response to “what makes a good life”?
Yes, I think that the community and teachers especially would agree to not take things for granted .
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher because i really wanted to be a role model and a positive role model for students. I think I have that gift to change the lives of children that come into my care and I really enjoy what I do
What is your mission? Do you want to change the lives of students ?
MY mission is to educate the children…
I think children are a gift
… as adults children look to us for the answers and I truly think we can change behavior. Children really need us in life.
Poem/Quote?
Poem “success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
10,000 Stories. One Shared Vision.
REENVISIONED is a national movement to redefine the purpose of school. We believe schools should foster flourishing individuals and a thriving democratic society. But what does it mean to thrive or flourish?
To answer this, we're building the world's largest collection of stories about what it means to live good lives and the role schools should play in helping create them: 10,000 stories from people across the country. We'll use the stories to learn about our shared values and dreams and to create a new vision for why we send our children to school.
We work with people like YOU across the country: Catalysts - individuals, classrooms, schools, and community organizations - who interview people in their communities and foster empathy nationwide by sharing the stories on our website and social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (@reenvisioned).