Mary McGrath
Seedlings Teacher
Mary (she/her/hers) was born and raised in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Her formative years were spent outside in the woods exploring the world around her by getting muddy and messy as often as possible. Mary deeply identifies with the principles that Maria Montessori upholds, “that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.” With this sentiment, Mary strives to offer herself as the gravity element of the classroom, anchoring the space to then encourage the children to become stewards of their own bodies, community and environment.
As someone with an extensive background in dance, Mary is a true lover of nonverbal communication and takes joy in existing alongside children whose primary ways of communicating are not yet found in words. Mary received her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase and completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler Teaching Credential at West Side Montessori School in Manhattan.
10 Questions with Teacher Mary!
Is there a memory, teacher, or experience from your own education that impacts the way you approach teaching?
Miss Becky, my kindergarten teacher, never spoke above a whisper and we all hung onto her every word. She instilled a deep sense of responsibility and care in each of us toward the space and each other. We cooked and baked with her and tended to the forest around her log school house. The classroom was our space, no parents allowed in. My dad, to this day, jokes that she must have been a witch because we were all so deeply under her spell!
What's your favorite part of the wBees day?
Outdoor time - breathing fresh air and hands in the dirt!
If you weren't teaching early childhood/pre-school, what other age range would you like to teach?
I would like to teach boogie down dance classes to people over the age of 50.
What's your favorite children's book? Why?
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran is a book I remember loving as a child because I was quite imaginative myself and particularly adored constructing fairy towns in the mossy glen behind my house.
What's your go-to school dance party song?
Dancing Queen - ABBA
What's your favorite New York City spot? Why?
Socrates Sculpture Park, Riis Beach
What's a skill, hobby, or passion of yours that you pursue outside of work?
communing with nature, being in community
What's your favorite thing to do during school breaks?
bathe in the sun's rays while chatting with a friend, a seltzer or kombucha in hand
What's one thing you think adults can learn from young children?
unfettered joy
Where is your favorite place to connect with nature? Why?
I love waterfalls and the ocean, running water has an amazing ability to both calm my nervous system and also prompt me into actions of discovery and sponteneity
What's a favorite quote, mantra, or phrase that guides your teaching philosophy?
"What the teacher is, is more important than what she teaches" - Karl Meninger