Mrs. Mary Anderson (33)

After three meaningful decades of shaping the minds of young St. Christopher’s students, Mrs. Mary Anderson’s career will be coming to a close.
 
She originally got a job teaching science here in the Middle School after years prior of working at the high school level. Upon joining the STC community, Mrs. Anderson’s impact was felt almost immediately, and she described her first group of boys as “the most outstanding class.” However, before her arrival at St. Christopher’s there hadn’t even been a sixth-grade science class.
 
When it was first introduced, Mrs. Anderson could see the love her students had for the subject, and said, “Many of them didn’t want to leave when class would end.” This joy for learning was infectious and fueled her spirit for educating.
 
You would think that most teachers, especially those starting at a new school, would have some sort of challenge that hindered their performance early as an educator. But, for Mrs. Anderson, it was the opposite. With a strong background in science and natural ability to adapt her teaching style to each student’s needs, she flourished as an educator and became a familiar and friendly face in the Middle School hallways. Thirty years later, she still holds tight to these qualities that made her beloved by all.
 
Though she will be retiring at the end of the year, Mrs. Anderson will miss aspects of her job on campus. Specifically, she will miss “the boys [and] the everyday interactions with them.” Seeing their faces light up when they see something cool during an experiment or grasp a difficult concept are some of the parts of being a teacher that have been the most rewarding.
 
The impact Mrs. Anderson has had on her students and colleagues over her tenure has been immense. And, though they might not realize it now, the Middle School boys in her 7th-grade life science classes will fondly remember the kindness and spirit she brought each day to the classroom (like her hundreds of former students do).