Thursday, May 28, 2009 9:50 PM CDT
Maris retiring after 15 years with Jefferson Elementary
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Karen Maris has encouraged her fifth-grade students to reach for the stars during her 15 years at Jefferson Elementary School.
Maris, who retired Thursday, said her favorite regular field trip was taking students to the Challenger Learning Center at the Prairie Aviation Museum in Bloomington. The learning center organization was started by the families of the Challenger space shuttle astronauts to carry on the educational mission of their lost loved ones.
“The goal is to get kids interested in astronomy, space travel and science in general,” said Maris, a teacher of science, math and social studies.
During a visit to the Challenger Learning Center, Maris said half of the students would work in a simulated spacecraft while the other half would work in a simulated mission control. She said they would then switch tasks during the missions of meeting up with a comet in space.
Maris thanked the Jefferson Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization for providing funding for the students to have this outer space experience.
“It’s totally hands-on the whole time. When we are there, the time goes by so fast,” Maris said. “What I like about it there is the kids are doing things the whole time. They have a mission, they have a job, they have a goal and they are working toward it the whole time.”
Maris, a Lawrenceville native, taught at other Illinois school districts and was a stay-at-home mom before joining the Charleston school district 16 years ago as a third-grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School. The following year she moved to Jefferson Elementary School, where she remained as a fifth-grade teacher.
“In fifth grade students are interested in the world around them. They usually still like school. It’s really a great grade,” Maris said. She added she has noticed that people tend to remember their fifth-grade teachers long after they have left elementary school.
Fifth-graders are generally eager to learn about the history of their country and are old enough and responsible enough to conduct science experiments on their own, Maris said.
Jefferson Principal Debbie Poffinbarger said Maris is known in the school for her kindness toward her students and for her creativity in incorporating technology and hands-on presentations into her lessons. Poffinbarger said she particularly liked how Maris incorporated literature into her lessons on math, science and social studies.
“I am going to miss her dearly. She is one of the most outstanding teachers that has ever crossed my path,” Poffinbarger said.
In retirement, Maris said she plans to work around her home as well as travel with her husband, Dr. Charles Maris, and visit their three children. They have two daughters in Chicago and one son in Orlando, Fla.
Maris said she will miss her students, adding she has learned a lot from them over the years. Maris said she will also miss her colleagues at Jefferson and the building itself. She has a centrally located classroom in the school’s new wing and her students planted a tree outside this classroom on Arbor Day this year.
“I have loved teaching here,” Maris said. “I have all the materials I need, all the equipment I need. I feel like the administration and the teachers are really supportive of each other. I feel like the parents are really supportive of the school and I think, for the most part, that the kids want to learn, so it has been a great place to work.”
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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