By Jen Matteis, Source Community
Desk Chief:
Marcat Knowlton
didn’t spend any money trying to win your vote—and in fact, she didn’t even
know she was in the running. But thanks to local students and parents who cast
votes in her favor, the first grade teacher at The Country School was recently
recognized by Guilford Wal*Mart as Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was
made during a meeting of Lower
School students and
faculty early last month.
“It was a complete
surprise to me,” Marcat says. “I had no idea what was going on. The children
started cheering.”
A $100 gift
certificate for her classroom and $1,000 for The Country School accompanied the
honorary title and Marcat is now eligible for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
But while she is delighted to have more money for the school’s programs, the
recognition is nothing new for Marcat, who has held her position at the Country School for the past 19 years.
“The Wal*Mart thing
is wonderful, but I get acknowledged daily from kids,” she says. Since the
student body ranges from pre-K to grade 8, she regularly encounters past
students, many who greet her with a friendly welcome or even a hug.
The wide range of
grades provides the school with a sense of continuity and connection,
heightened by the small student body and active parental involvement.
“You see the
children as they move through the grades, you connect with the families,”
Marcat explains. “You touch so many lives. That’s the beauty of being here.”
Looking back, Marcat
recalls that the first children she taught at the school are now 26 years
old—and that since then, she has worked with more than 320 children and their
families. Her success as a teacher is rooted in something simple: making
learning fun. From exploring the Blue Trail that runs right behind the school
to scavenging for shells at West
Wharf, Marcat and her
kids have a blast exploring the natural world.
Even when it comes
to typically dour topics such as math, Marcat has used her influence to help
mold the first grade program into a fun experience that the kids will remember.
Versatility plays a big role, with the focus shifting to cover kids’ interests.
For instance, with Math Choice, kids get to choose what type of math they focus
on.
“Lots of times, the
kids drive the program,” Marcat explains. “There was a boy who was passionate
about spiders—that year we did something on spiders. To have that flexibility
is amazing.”
A native of Madison
who moved to Old Saybrook four years ago, Marcat and her husband Gerry have
raised two kids of their own, Missy and Geoff. Her career at The Country School
is an active confirmation of dreams that she carried throughout her life.
“I always knew I
wanted to be a teacher,” Marcat emphasizes. “I just always knew. I loved
children and being with them. There’s nothing better.
“Teaching here is
amazing,” she adds. “When the child says I can do this and I feel good about
it—it’s powerful. Just to see their faces is heartwarming, and to think maybe
I’m a piece of that is pretty amazing.”
Pictured: Students of
first grade teacher Marcat Knowlton spend school time both indoors and out—a
fact visible here in a “tree” recreated from bark, leaves, and twigs brought
into the classroom.
Photo by Jen Matteis
To nominate a person
of the week, call 203-245-1877, ext. 6119 or email j.matteis@shorepublishing.com.