Gray earns tenure as Fredonia STEM teacher
Trending
Four years ago, Margaret Gray was hired as a STEM Teacher at her alma mater. She said at the time that she had a wonderful experience at Fredonia as a student, and she hoped to give other students the same opinion of the district.
So far, so good.
At a recent Board of Education meeting, Gray was granted tenure as the district's Elementary STEM Teacher, effective Sept. 26. Gray holds professional certification in Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), and possesses a Master's Degree from the University at Buffalo.
"I've been thinking about this day for a long time. I was really excited for it. ... I'm so grateful to be building my career here," Gray said.
When Gray was first hired, she said the STEM program was something she was "so incredibly passionate about." At that time, however, the district was unsure of what the program would look like, as Gray was hired to get the program off the ground.
Since then, Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox said that Gray has "added layer after layer after layer into a really solid course that students enjoy and, I think, benefit from on a variety of levels." He celebrated the problem solving and higher level thinking the program inspires.
"It has worked out better than we anticipated, much to her credit," Zilliox said of Gray's efforts.
Elementary Principal Mark Drollinger said to Gray, "The way you work with kids is pretty impressive." He added that Gray "rows in the same direction as the building."
Gray also instructs the students at the Wheelock Early Childhood Center, in addition to the Elementary School students. Wheelock Principal Amy Piper said that Gray builds in the love for the outdoors at Wheelock to her lessons. Piper said Gray is "a phenomenal hire" and that nobody deserves tenure more than she does.
"Thank you for all of you for trusting me with our littlest learners and littlest leaders. They remind me every single day why I am a teacher with their curiosity, their wonder, and their spunk," Gray said to the Board and the district as a whole. "Thank you for trusting me to build the STEM program. It really has been so empowering ... to be able to build a program that continues to evolve and change."
Board of Education President Steve Johnston told Gray that his granddaughter was excited to learn that she was set to receive tenure at the Board meeting. She asked if the award would be a medal or a trophy, and was disappointed to learn that the award was simply the granting of tenure.
Gray joked that a good STEM project would be for students to design an award for their favorite teacher. If it comes to fruition, Gray could end up filling quite the trophy case.