Molly is a fine leader and is finishing her career in education with such grace. As I am at the beginning of my career in administration, I look toward Molly as an example of where I hope to be down the road. Thanks for being a great colleague and example Molly!
I first had the privilege of being introduced to Molly's excellence as an educator during the 1989-90 school year. At that time, I was a first year principal with Canon City Schools, and I had asked fellow elementary principals if I could observe them during the Formative Classroom Observation and Post-observation Conference processes with outstanding teachers. Molly was a second grade teacher at McKinley, and her principal, Mr. Gary Wilson, invited me to join him in observing and conferencing Molly. WOW! I was so impressed with her awesome implementation of teaching strategies! I remember sitting in absolute wonder . . . . A few years later, the Superintendent of Canon City Schools, Frank Cooper, asked if Lincoln Elementary could "house" a school-within-a-school "choice" program entitled Exploratory School. Molly had authored a grant for starting a school based on Multiple Intelligences and project-based learning. I jumped at the opportunity! What a thrill it was to have this exceptional educator in "my" building! I soon learned there was much more to Molly Merry than just exceptionality as a facilitator of students' learning. I learned that she was incredibly intelligent, humble, and had an amazing sense of empathy and compassion. It was not surprising that she was tapped as Colorado's Teacher of the Year! As Exploratory School expanded in size, it outgrew Lincoln Elementary and required its own setting. A few years later, I again had the honor of working closely with Molly at Madison Exploratory School. What an incredible educational leader she continued to be! As I look back at my twenty years with Canon City Schools, I am stunned by having had the blessing to be associated with Molly. She is the kind of colleague that you read about, yet, we have had the honor and privilege of learning directly from her. I am humbled by the association with someone of her caliber . . . . She has touched and shaped my life, and I know she has had a similar positive impact on so many, many students and co-workers. Debi Blackwell
Having had the priveledge of working with Molly for two years at Garden Park, one word comes to mind: empowering. She empowers our students to reach their potential and she empowers this staff to do their best in nurturning the possibilities in our students,regardless of your position on staff. She inspires confidence in the ability of each individual, student and staff, to be more and better. I truly believe this school district and this community are better for having Molly as an educator for so many years. Molly, thank you for setting the standard and for empowering me to step up and become a part of this mission.
When a position was open at Garden Park High School, I immediately applied because I had been an admirer of Molly for many years. The things I admired her for - her creativity, hard work, and dedication to education - have turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. Working with Molly has been a dream come true for me. I can't think of a better place for me to have been than working with Molly the last 4 years. Molly truly understands and models how to be a colleague, and I will always appreciate her kindness and generosity.
It has been a great pleasure and am honored to have been able to work along side with Molly. She has the most positive way of working with people and many of us respect her highly. We are going to miss her here as a collegue and as a friend.
Molly is a fine leader and is finishing her career in education with such grace. As I am at the beginning of my career in administration, I look toward Molly as an example of where I hope to be down the road. Thanks for being a great colleague and example Molly!
ReplyDeleteI first had the privilege of being introduced to Molly's excellence as an educator during the 1989-90 school year. At that time, I was a first year principal with Canon City Schools, and I had asked fellow elementary principals if I could observe them during the Formative Classroom Observation and Post-observation Conference processes with outstanding teachers. Molly was a second grade teacher at McKinley, and her principal, Mr. Gary Wilson, invited me to join him in observing and conferencing Molly. WOW! I was so impressed with her awesome implementation of teaching strategies! I remember sitting in absolute wonder . . . .
ReplyDeleteA few years later, the Superintendent of Canon City Schools, Frank Cooper, asked if Lincoln Elementary could "house" a school-within-a-school "choice" program entitled Exploratory School. Molly had authored a grant for starting a school based on Multiple Intelligences and project-based learning. I jumped at the opportunity! What a thrill it was to have this exceptional educator in "my" building! I soon learned there was much more to Molly Merry than just exceptionality as a facilitator of students' learning. I learned that she was incredibly intelligent, humble, and had an amazing sense of empathy and compassion. It was not surprising that she was tapped as Colorado's Teacher of the Year!
As Exploratory School expanded in size, it outgrew Lincoln Elementary and required its own setting. A few years later, I again had the honor of working closely with Molly at Madison Exploratory School. What an incredible educational leader she continued to be!
As I look back at my twenty years with Canon City Schools, I am stunned by having had the blessing to be associated with Molly. She is the kind of colleague that you read about, yet, we have had the honor and privilege of learning directly from her. I am humbled by the association with someone of her caliber . . . . She has touched and shaped my life, and I know she has had a similar positive impact on so many, many students and co-workers.
Debi Blackwell
Having had the priveledge of working with Molly for two years at Garden Park, one word comes to mind: empowering. She empowers our students to reach their potential and she empowers this staff to do their best in nurturning the possibilities in our students,regardless of your position on staff. She inspires confidence in the ability of each individual, student and staff, to be more and better. I truly believe this school district and this community are better for having Molly as an educator for so many years. Molly, thank you for setting the standard and for empowering me to step up and become a part of this mission.
ReplyDeleteWhen a position was open at Garden Park High School, I immediately applied because I had been an admirer of Molly for many years. The things I admired her for - her creativity, hard work, and dedication to education - have turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. Working with Molly has been a dream come true for me. I can't think of a better place for me to have been than working with Molly the last 4 years. Molly truly understands and models how to be a colleague, and I will always appreciate her kindness and generosity.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a great pleasure and am honored to have been able to work along side with Molly. She has the most positive way of working with people and many of us respect her highly. We are going to miss her here as a collegue and as a friend.
ReplyDelete