Super Story - Inside Education Maria Libby

My guest today is Tanya Young, a woman who has been a school counselor for over twenty years and has been in our middle school for over fifteen years. 
In that time, she has seen and heard at all. From teaching sex education to making home visits to supporting anxious students on overnight field trips, Tanya has extended herself in ways that many people are never required to. 
Her expertise and experience, her nurturing nature, and her ardent advocacy for students are instrumental in the success of our student body.

My guest today is Alison Babb-Brott. This is her second year teaching first grade in our school district though she’s been teaching for about a decade.
Her family has a rich history in our town. Her great great grandfather was superintendent of the Knox Woolen Mill in downtown Camden from 1889 to 1956. He worked at the mill for total of 70 years. When I moved to Camden as a child in 1974, Ali’s grandfather was superintendent of the very same mill. I became good friends with Ali‘s mother and her aunt. Her father also grew up locally. Though Ali was born and raised in Massachusetts, it’s no wonder she feels this place is home. I have no doubt she can feel the presence of her deep heritage here.
Our school district is so fortunate that she returned because she quickly became a beloved teacher at our elementary school.

On today’s episode I’m talking with two high school boys: Mac Pierce, a sophomore and Finlay Fitch, a junior. Both are on the soccer team and Mac is my cousin’s son. We’ve lived in the same community his whole life so he’s like a nephew to me. We are going to talk soccer, phones and get some insight into being a teenage boy in high school.

Today’s guest, fifth grade teacher Heather Butler, is the epitome of teaching excellence. She is highly skilled instructionally and has a spark in her eye that makes her students feel valued and loved. She’s the kind of teacher that parents pray for their child to end up in her class. We are so fortunate that she applied for an opening that we had three years ago.

I feel like I have known Kristi Hardy-Gilson for my entire life. We both grew up locally and my now grown children both had her as their multiage teacher for three years. She is the teacher that parents want their children to have but it has not always been easy for her. The field of education has changed significantly since she started and she has witnessed many leaders come and go. That can take its toll. We will talk today about both her highs and her lows.

There are events in history, whose timestamp leaves an indelible mark on us. Etched into our memory is exact moment JFK was killed, when the planes crashed into the twin towers, or the day you laid eyes on the love of your life.
Well, one of those memories for me was the day I met Jaime Stone, today’s guest. She is in her 10th year as principal at our middle school. To say Jaime is an inspirational and transformational leader seems like an understatement. She is truly exceptional. She is one in a million and that will shine through this episode.
This is second part of our conversation which focuses on school leadership.