Educator Awards Spotlight: Mary Krzysiak
Mary Krzysiak is the Olympic Region ESD 114 Regional Teacher of the Year and is a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Multiage Teacher at Dry Creek Elementary in Port Angeles School District
We’re sharing the wisdom of our incredible regional and state Teachers and Classified School Employees of the Year, in their own words. Find more on our Spotlight page.
What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their career in education?
I would encourage new educators to always be curious. Curiosity promotes looking at multiple perspectives, greatly decreasing misinformed assumptions. These assumptions can affect self, students, families, and school climate in detrimental ways. A lack of curiosity also stops an educator from learning more; more about ourselves, others, innovations, intents. We must not assume our voice is the only voice worth hearing; it will inhibit self-reflection and growth, and lead to burnout, which negatively affects self, students, families, and the school climate. Approaching ideas and situations with, “I wonder what/how/who/why…” will open new learning opportunities for you and your students.
Tell us about a time during COVID-19 that you felt successful as an educator.
Last spring we had students for three hours per day. We struggled with time to “fit it all in” and catch students up. After a frustrating week, we reflected: what do our students need now and how we can we get them there; the true model of PLC. Our students needed time. Time for engaging, relevant learning based on their interests. We created a literacy unit based on their needs and interests. Within the month, students remembered- learning is fun! They asked questions, wrote and read books, created art. Their reading/writing engagement and volume soared. Our students were empowered learners again.
What is one local, state, or national education issue that you think more people should be thinking/talking about?
People should be talking about how now is the perfect time to reflect on what we learned from COVID, and reevaluate dated policies that negatively affect our students. We learned that colleges don’t need SAT/ACT scores to admit students; rather, they look at the whole child, relieving pressure on millions of over-stressed students. State testing moratoriums showed us that teachers will still teach- maybe even better- without having to prepare for the SBAC, and students took a deep breath of relief to not have to spend March-April prepping for the test. That recess, PE, and Music are essential for students!
Describe your perfect day at work.
My perfect day is when my students take ownership of their learning. When they’re inspired to write a book or song or letter based off something we’ve learned. When there’s that buzz in the classroom: students working around the room, on the floor, at counters, working with different materials, to show their understanding of the concepts. When students say, “That’s not okay! What can we do about this?’ in response to world, community, school, class, friend, family issues. When I am the coach, the facilitator, and they drive the learning and are proud to be learners at Dry Creek Elementary.
When did you decide to work in education and what sustains you professionally?
I decided to work in education after my husband started his college career to get his teaching degree. At home with two babies, I was envious of his opportunity. I would read his assignments and write my own responses in my head. I read his textbooks and sighed, thinking of all the things I would do if I had the opportunity. Eight years later I earned a Masters degree, and found a fire within myself. What sustains me professionally is to always be curious, to learn from and with others. To seek out the marigolds (Cult of Pedagogy 2013).
Learn more about the Teacher and Classified School Employees of the Year on the Educator Awards website.
