Teacher Appreciation Day this year was held on May 7 along with the entire week of May 6-10 being dedicated to honor teachers across the country. Each year teachers take to their work in September sculpting the minds of children for 9 long months before stepping away in June to recoup from all their hard work over the past school year.
The job of teaching is often overlooked and misunderstood. Most educators put more effort into their careers than can be explained by mere words and can only be measured by their own view of accomplishments. Today we take a moment to honor one of our own local teachers while also acknowledging the hard work of dozens of teachers in the Willapa Harbor area and thousands around the country.
After many requests, this year's teacher spotlight will be on Molly Majors of the Willapa Valley School District. She has been with the district for the past six years as an Early Career Teacher and has been honored as District 3's Outstanding Early Career Teacher four separate times.
Can you tell the readers a little about yourself such as where you grew up and what it was like? Schools and college(s)?
I grew up in Mossyrock, WA on a small family farm raising, showing, and selling sheep. It was definitely a family affair. We would spend summers caring for and preparing animals for show or sale and traveling to several shows. Winters were spent preparing and assisting ewes (female sheep) in lambing and keeping the flock healthy. I wasn't the typical teenager who had tons of free time for friends. My free time was spent at basketball camps and working with my sheep. My friends were other stock show kids and my teammates.
I attended Mossyrock School District where I played basketball and ran track. After graduation, I attended Centralia College where I earned my Associate's Degree as well as playing for the Women's' Basketball Program. I then transferred to Washington State University in Pullman and earned my Bachelors' of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources with a focus in Agriculture Education.
Is there a particular reason you chose a career in education? Was it a plan you had growing up or did you find your way into the profession by chance?
Both my parents and my high school counselor, Mr. Johnson, started the conversation about career paths early in my high school career. It started with them just asking what my interests were. Ninth grade I loved basketball, history, shearing and fitting sheep, and Mr. Hankins' metal shop and agriculture classes. I was dead set on becoming a professional sheep fitter and yes that is a real profession.
My parents, both educators originally, saw that I excelled in working with and instructing students. I then decided that I would become a history instructor. Well, after my mother sat me down to look at projected job openings in the state of Washington for the next decade; I realized that there weren't that many job opportunities for that position. Enter Mr. Johnson and a very well-timed conversation. He took the time to ask me what I truly enjoyed and what my passions were. Tenth grade I loved working with animals, welding and working with my hands, attending fairs, and science.
Mr. Johnson suggested that I look at WSU and the University of Idaho's Agriculture Education programs. He made me realize that it was everything that I loved all in one package. As I finally entered the WSU program, I could not fathom the diversity of this occupation. If you ever truly want to understand the diversity of an Ag. Teacher, you should read the poem "Please Pardon the Ag. Teacher."
I'm required to be a coach, vet, agronomist, marketing consultant, greenhouse manager, and many other titles, and that may sound daunting to some, but I cannot express how much I love my job. The fact that every day and every class period is different fits my personality perfectly.
Many educators admit that teaching is both as rewarding as it challenging. In your experience how do you see it? Do you agree or disagree? How do you feel about the reward vs. challenge of the job?
The FFA Creed, a very relevant piece written in 1930, talks about pursuits being pleasant as well as challenging. Being an Agriculture Educator is exhausting and time consuming. When others clock out, we are on the road with students at contests, leadership trainings, and conferences.
My family knows that Mother's Day will always be spent at State FFA Convention with other people's kids, instead of at home with my family. That is just another part of the job. To me, being a teacher means not only being invested in my students' education but helping them grow in social skills and life experiences as well. It means staying late and working overtime for the betterment of my students.
Teaching is a calling and teachers always say we are in it for the outcome, not for the income. It may sound corny, but it is true.
Almost all teachers have moments of their careers that really shine. Moments that can bring both a smile to their face and tears to their eyes as they reflect. Is there a few moments you're willing to share?
My moments are many. Watching a student recite the FFA Creed so well and convincing that it gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes is a recent one. Hearing the joys in a scream of a student who got the phone call that they made it into finals of a competition is another.
Standing on stage and feeling the nervous energy from that same student waiting to hear their fate is exhilarating. Another moment is seeing a student and his parents see all his hard work pay off as he won a state competition. Their smiles, shock, and joy were priceless. My young career is full of those moments, full of seeing students realize they can achieve so much more than they realized.
The Willapa Valley School District has greatly appreciated your accomplishments with the district. Superintendent Nancy Morris openly admits you have achieved so much for the students and district alike. What have been some of your core achievements with the district?
My greatest achievement was bringing a dwindling program back to life. It is not only alive, now, but thriving. For a first year teacher to take that on, 6 years ago, was a bit daunting. I was a rookie who had no idea what I was getting into.
There were the typical stressors and difficulties of a first and second year teacher, but with a great work family and peers in other Ag. Teachers, I made it through. The program has grown to a competitive and rigorous program with students looking forward to it and chomping at the bit to be able to take part.
In June you leave Willapa Valley and will be moving on. What is the next chapter in your story?
My family and I will be returning to the my family's farm in Mossyrock to raise our kids. I will be taking on the role as the Agriculture Education Teacher at Adna Middle/High School. It is a fledgling program ready for growth and expansion. I will still be around to work with the students at Willapa Valley, helping to transition in the new advisor and to give help whenever it is needed.
Is there anything you would like to say the students, staff, community, and anyone else at the Willapa Valley School District?
I want to take the time to say thank you. Thank you for helping me grow and developing me into the teacher that I am today. Being so isolated as an Ag. Teacher, I relied on my peers and on my own ingenuity to make it through. To the parents and students that I've had the opportunity and pleasure to work with, you all are what made this program great. You all were open to this young teacher who had tons of ideas and crazy energy and trusted her to instruct your students and to take them on a journey to learn just how diverse and modern agriculture can be.
A very appreciative district
The Willapa Valley School District has greatly appreciated all the hard work Majors has given the district. In June she says goodbye to the district and moves on to her new home in Mossyrock. Before beginning her new career with the Adna School District but will leave a lasting impression on both her colleagues and students at Willapa Valley.
"The students and staff will value all her contributions and achievements to the district for many years to come," Willapa Valley School District Superintendent Nancy Morris stated. "We're very sad to see her go but wish her the best at her new job and thank her so much for everything she's done for the district. She's a great teacher and we were honored to have her a part of the district."
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