Herald Head of the Class 2021: Maggie Delahunty, Baldwin Middle School Seventh Grade ELA

Why did you become a teacher?

My mother was the youngest of 12 children and the first woman in her family to go to college.  She went on to pursue a Master's degree in Special Education at a time when few women earned advanced degrees.  She gave up teaching to raise me and my siblings, but never lost the qualities that made her such a wonderful teacher.  She inspired my lover of learning and reading.  The teachers that I had cultivated that love of learning, so there was never anything else I wanted to do but be a teacher.  

Tell us about a teacher that inspired you as a student.

I have had so many inspirational teachers, but one that stood out for me was my 3rd-grade teacher Mrs. Baker.  I had to have a pretty major operation in October of my 3rd-grade year, and I was hospitalized for several weeks.  She came to visit me in the hospital and brought me books and presents because she knew I loved to read.  She had the students make me cards and pictures so I would know I was not forgotten.  When I returned to school, she made such a big deal about welcoming me back.  I never forgot that, and, as I grew older, I realized that she took time away from her family on a Saturday to come see me.  She didn't have to do that, but she did it because she cared.  

What did you experience or learn about teaching—yourself, your students, the process, etc.—during the pandemic that you think you will carry forward? 

During the pandemic, I did daily check-ins with my students where I shared funny stories, fun facts, and pictures of my children and I asked them to do the same.  The students, and their families, really loved and appreciated that I was trying to stay connected to them at a time when everyone felt isolated.  I have always known that effective teaching cannot happen without strong interpersonal relationships, but the pandemic reinforced the importance of the human connection between parents, students, and teachers.  When they know you care about their mental health and wellbeing more than you care about content, it creates an incredibly powerful environment for learning.  

What's the most memorable thing a student has said to you?

There are many funny memorable things that students say, but the most heartwarming thing I hear is, "Thank you for believing in me."

What has been your toughest challenge as a teacher so far? 

My toughest challenge as a teacher so far was when schools closed last spring due to the pandemic. The connections I made with my students prior allowed us to communicate, problem solve, and navigate the online learning environment we were not used to while we also tried to make sense of what was happening all around us.   

What has been your proudest moment as a teacher so far? 

I have been lucky to have many proud moments over the years, but this month I was able to present a special award to a student from last year.  This young lady went through a very difficult health situation last summer.  She faced a scary diagnosis with dignity and tenacity.  She persevered through every setback and was able to work remotely this year while also getting physical therapy.  Watching her overcome every obstacle and come out healthy and strong has been amazing, and I was so proud to present her with that award.  

What surprised you the most when you first started teaching?

How much I didn't know!  I was very young when I started teaching, and I naively thought that I knew it all.  When I first started, it became very clear that there is always more to learn, always new ways to grow and evolve as an educator.  Our work to improve ourselves professionally is never done.  

How do you keep students engaged and interested? 

Students buy into a class when they feel safe and supported.  I try to create that environment at the beginning of the year.  Middle school students also thrive on structure and dependability.  They will never admit that, but it is true. Spending time on creating those relationships and environment has a tremendous payoff in instruction.  

What is an aspect of being a teacher that you think most people outside the profession don't know or fully understand?

There's a wonderful lyric in the song "The World was Wide Enough" from the musical Hamilton that defines legacy as, "Planting seeds in a garden you never get to see."  That's what teaching is like.  We spend a school year growing into a little family with all our classes.  Each one has its own unique rhythm and personality.  Then in June, we say goodbye.  We hope the seeds we planted grow and our students flourish as they go on to high school and beyond, but, for the majority of students, we don't get to go on that journey with them, but we carry them with us forever.    

What advice do you have for aspiring teachers?

Being a first-year teacher is trial by fire.  There is really nothing that can prepare you for what that first year is like.  The best thing you can do for yourself and your students is to be prepared, be flexible, and find a great mentor teacher.  The seasoned teachers at my school as well as my first department chairperson, Kevin Harrington, took me under their wings and shepherded me through my first year. Also, be kind to yourself.  

What is the most important thing you hope a student takes away from your class?

7th grade is a time of tremendous emotional and physical growth and change.  They are in an in-between place when they aren't little kids, but they also aren't teenagers.  I hope they leave my class feeling cared for and supported.  I hope they know that there is an adult they come to who believes in them.