If you have ever had the pleasure of running into Kathy Bailey and Margaret Hales around the Minden community, the sentiment you most likely felt when walking away was simply more enthusiastic about your day.
Effusive. Abundant. Genuine. Encouraging. Upbeat. These two second grade teachers at Glenbrook School fill the halls and classrooms with these attributes. Kathy Bailey teaches reading while Margaret Hales teaches math as well as social studies and science. These two teachers are a right and left hand to each other during their day, constantly in tune with the other and making sure their tasks set before them are coordinated seamlessly.
Kathy Bailey, from Benton, LA, has taught for 47 years. She has been at Glenbrook School for 7 years. Margaret Hales, from Minden, LA, has taught for 45 years and has been a second grade teacher at Glenbrook School for 9 years. This duo works so very well together, even claiming they think so much alike and have a profound appreciation for their profession and dedication to the children in the classroom. These ladies coordinate their lessons together to best complement the students each week.
Three standout highlights of teaching second grade for these two ladies are:
- A visit to Safety Town in Shreveport each year. They teach a safety curriculum from the Caddo Parish Sheriff Office in advance of the visit and use it to teach personal awareness, car safety, and home safety. Each teacher uses the curriculum in conjunction with the writing, reading, and math being taught.
- Mardi Gras. For many years, retired school teacher Becky Marvin came to teach a 6-week program on the history and importance of Mardi Gras in Louisiana. Mrs. Marvin is now assisted by retired school teacher Becky Mourad. The teachers weave this into the social studies, reading and writing. There is even a festive end on Fat Tuesday when each student dresses up as a Mardi Gras character, introduces themselves to the student body and then participates in a parade.
- The 2nd Grade Butterfly Garden. This joint project of several teachers is ultimately cared for by the 2nd grade class. The entire campus enjoys this flower studded spot.
When asked what motivates them to teach, Mrs. Hales says, “I teach to make children accountable – to themselves, their peers, and their families.” Mrs. Bailey responds, “I teach in a manner that I would want my own children and grandchildren to be taught.” They call themselves “old school,” and while embracing new curriculum and an ever-changing world is challenging for all of us, they put their best foot forward each day and choose to succeed. Mrs. Hales said the new technological methods of teaching introduced each year help them to keep learning themselves which she embraces. Mrs. Bailey said that when she came to Glenbrook School, “I feel back in love with teaching again. The environment at Glenbrook School motivates me to help, encourage, and mentor others.”
And if all of these daily activities are not enough, both teachers travel together to countless extra-curricular activities to cheer for their students at hot and cold ball games, church and community events, and anything extra their present and past students are involved in. There is no shortage of hugs, big smiles and an enriching of both students’ and parents’ lives by their showing up.
A fellow elementary teacher, Jennifer Mosley, says, “I had the pleasure of teaching 2nd grade with Margaret Hales for 4 years, and in that time I witnessed her endless patience, compassion, and genuine care for her students. She is a teacher who would do anything to help the kids and who bends over backwards for her coworkers. I love walking by Kathy Bailey’s class to see the writing samples she displays outside on the wall. She has a gift for teaching young students to write creatively!”
More than humble, these ladies both say, “We do what we can.” How remarkable is it that their every day duties are viewed by everyone else as richly devoted and incredibly top notch but to themselves as simply modest. Glenbrook School’s students and families are made better by their presence, time, and many talents.