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Published: Thursday, January 22, 2009
Harbor News
Guilford, CT
Marcat Knowlton didn’t spend any money trying to win your vote—and in fact, she didn’t even know she was in the running. But thanks to local students and parents at The Country School who cast votes in her favor, the first grade teacher from Old Saybrook was recently recognized by Guilford Wal*Mart as Teacher of the Year.
“It was a complete surprise to me,” Marcat says. “I had no idea what was going on. The children started cheering.”
A $100 gift certificate for her classroom and $1,000 for The Country School accompanied the honorary title and Marcat is now eligible for Connecticut Teacher of the Year. But while she’s delighted to have more money for the school’s programs, the recognition is nothing new for Marcat, who has held her position at the Country School for the past 19 years.
“The Wal*Mart thing is wonderful, but I get acknowledged daily from kids,” she says. Since the student body ranges from pre-K to grade 8, she regularly encounters past students, many who greet her with a friendly welcome or even a hug.
“You see the children as they move through the grades, you connect with the families,” Marcat explains. “You touch so many lives. That’s the beauty of being here.”
Looking back, Marcat recalls that the first children she taught at the school are now 26 years old—and that since then, she has worked with more than 320 children and their families. Her success as a teacher is rooted in something simple: making learning fun. From exploring the Blue Trail that runs right behind the school to scavenging for shells, Marcat and her kids have a blast exploring the natural world.
Even when it comes to typically dour topics such as math, Marcat has used her influence to help mold the first grade program into a fun experience that the kids will remember. Versatility plays a big role, with the focus shifting to cover kids’ interests. For instance, with Math Choice, kids get to choose what type of math they focus on.
“Lots of times, the kids drive the program,” Marcat explains. “There was a boy who was passionate about spiders—that year we did something on spiders. To have that flexibility is amazing.”
A native of Madison who moved to Old Saybrook four years ago, Marcat and her husband Gerry have raised two kids of their own, Missy and Geoff. Her career at The Country School is an active confirmation of dreams that she carried throughout her life.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Marcat emphasizes. “I just always knew. I loved children and being with them. There’s nothing better.
“Teaching here is amazing,” she adds. “When the child says I can do this and I feel good about it—it’s powerful. Just to see their faces is heartwarming, and to think maybe I’m a piece of that is pretty amazing.”
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