Asbury Educator of the Month: Mary Henry
Even after two decades in the classroom, the end of the school year remains an emotional, bittersweet time for Mary Henry, a fourth grade teacher at Wilmore Elementary.
“I’ve been blessed with such amazing students,” she said. “I’m realizing that I have just a few more days with them and I’m going to miss them so much.”
Sentiments like that underscore one of Henry’s strengths – compassion.
“She’s a kind spirit and the kids all know that,” Principal Dawn Floyd said. “When her students from way back return to the school, they say that her kindness meant a lot to them. She’s just a phenomenal educator.”
That’s one of the reasons Henry is the reigning Wilmore Elementary Teacher of the Year.
The school has been a second home for Henry, whose two daughters attended the school while she taught there. Her oldest, Bethany, is now a first-grade teacher in Jessamine County and Katy is studying to be a teacher.
Henry worked in private schools her first four years on the job before she became a stay-at-home mom until her youngest was ready for kindergarten.
Henry taught third and fourth grade for seven years before moving to Brookside Elementary as that school’s librarian. (She earned her Rank One in library science.)
After four years at Brookside, she returned to Wilmore and has taught fourth grade since.
“I feel that this is my niche, but every area and place I’ve taught at that moment was where I needed to be,” she said.
“I love fourth graders because of their sense of wonder and I get to share in their joy.”
An avid reader, Henry matches her love of reading with a keen interest in science. “These are my twin favorites and that helps me serve children with different learning styles,” she said.
Relying on her library science background, Henry directs the reading lives of her students and then creates a kinetic learning environment in science with plenty of hands-on activities. A typical project is creating wind-proof houses out of Legos.
“They thought they were just playing when they were really learning about engineering,” she said.
Henry insists on setting high expectations for her students in a structured, organized classroom, but lives by the following motto: “Children don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
There it is again – kindness.
NOMINATIONS: Asbury University’s School of Education, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees for young adults and working professionals in Kentucky and around the world, is pleased to honor world-class educators throughout Kentucky. If you would like to nominate an educator, contact Asbury University’s School of Education at AUSOE@asbury.edu.