Happy St. Patricks Day, and welcome to another #TeacherTuesday! This week, we are highlighting Maureen Casey, School Counselor.
What strikes you most about the students at Hillbrook?
There is an energy on this campus that can be difficult to explain, yet can be seen in the joyful running across grass and bridges. Children are equipped to be a bit independent on the school grounds which is a reflection of our belief that children can learn to be on their own by falling down and getting up again. “Falling down Is part of life. Getting back up is living.”
When you think about the students at Hillbrook, what’s the one thing that stands out to you?
Such a great expanse of students attend Hillbrook and we all learn about the uniqueness of each other. Students here are thinking in big ways about their world by grade level so that Hillbrook students have an energy to experience how they might impact the world beyond our gates with a variety of persons.
What is your favorite Hillbrook tradition?
Each year at graduation, lyrics are written by each grade to sing during the ceremony. While the writing goes on, there is a terrific reminiscing and a sense of humor that emanates from the students. I always get a laugh and a smile with what they choose as the highlights of the year. And because music is such a deep part of my growing up, I am always touched by the sound of all of those young voices together.
What made you choose to teach at Hillbrook?
I had the opportunity to work with a greater span of ages and developmental stages of growth amid a school that values social-emotional growth. What I did not know at the time was that I would be engaged in incredible professional conversations about cutting edge work in education.
What are you most looking forward to at Hillbrook in the next few months?
Seeing the culmination of the year’s growth for children shown both in annual events and in the interaction one on one with students during their day. I also love seeing students romping off to swimming and then walking slowly back to class afterward with wet hair and smiles. This signals the end of the year and the tradition of the Regatta.
What is the last place you visited?
I visited my daughter, her family, and extended family where we enjoyed the gorgeous Oregon parks and played in a river during the rain. I’m looking forward to more travel and spending time in London again in the near future.
What is the last book you read?
All The Light We Cannot See, a historical fiction piece that takes place in a spot in France that I’ve visited. It’s also poignant because it takes place during World War II, and I always think of what that time was like for my parents’ generation and the lessons we may or may not have learned as a people and nation.
I also read Alexander Chernow’s Hamilton and was stunned with how little I knew about this remarkable Founding Father, and in particular his visionary establishment of our national financial structure.
Finally, The Person You Mean To Be is a provoking study and narrative about how much of what persons say and do that belies the intention of treating each other with respect and with understanding the other’s perspective of what the world is like. Painful as it can be to bring to light how we each may cause harm, this book draws on the desire to be better which fosters specific steps for becoming more of who we mean to be.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Ms. Casey!