Sometimes it takes another person to show us our true potential when we can’t see it ourselves. After talking with her high school counselor, Mary Geasey decided to go down the path of higher education and pursue a degree in education. Along her journey, she wanted to learn more about how she could better support her students with special needs. Mary soon became recognized as a special educator, and eventually, she was chosen to rebuild the special education services and programs at Walkersville Elementary School. She is now a special education instructor and has been an educator with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) for 18 years.

Mary is passionate about creating an inclusive environment for her learners, and she loves working with other educators who share her vision - especially in a time when special education reform is needed. She believes shifting our mindsets is key, as well as shifting the way we teach our students. While the pandemic really changed education permanently, Mary was able to come together and help other educators learn and utilize new tools to truly support their students at their own pace. She loves collaborating with others who are creative and innovative, and aren’t afraid to find a way to meet the needs of all students.

When it comes to making positive progress, there is no change in the comfort zone. In order to grow both personally and professionally, it just can’t be done when you’re too ‘comfortable’, and Mary has experienced this firsthand. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Mary’s inspiring story, and all of the incredible work she is doing in the education space!

About Mary Geasey:

Mary Geasey is a special education instructor who’s been a teacher with FCPS for 18 years. Before she joined Walkersville Elementary School, she taught at Middletown Primary and Kemptown Elementary. Mary is a Vanguard Teacher Program alumni, a member of her school's School Improvement Process team, and the Frederick County Teacher Association’s Leadership Development committee. She was runner up for FCPS's Teacher of the Year in 2022 and a Finalist for Washington Post's Teacher of the Year in 2023.

Mary earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Frostburg State University, a master of arts in Elementary Education from West Virginia University (WVA), and a bachelor of arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from WVA. Mary is also a member of the Leadership Frederick County class of 2023, and she brings an enthusiastic perspective to those that she leads.

www.fcps.org

Episode Timestamps:

• Mary’s journey of finding her career path in education, and then specifically in special education {01:20}
• Shifting and rebuilding the special education space {12:42}
• How the pandemic really impacted the education space {15:48}
• Leadership lessons Mary has learned on her journey {24:19}
• Why there is no change in the comfort zone {30:27}

“Showing that grace when you do make mistakes, and to be able to say ‘You know what? That didn't work the way I wanted it to, but how are we going to move forward? What can we do differently?’ is important. Every year in education, and really every single day, you have the opportunity to start over, and you learn from it.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

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