Last week the Owl met Megan Leddy, a Weston teacher, who has returned to Weston from whence she came–she’s a class of 2009 Wildcat. So this makes her a former student under John Gibbons’ 30 year principalship (principality? Reign of principalness?) and she even has a photo of herself with Mr. Brown, 8th grade civics teacher, at her 8th grade semi-formal. Time flies, no?

Megan is a wonderfully energetic and engaging person and the Owl was fortunate to catch up with her and ask her some questions about how she got where she is, what she loves about her job, and why Wildcats wear maroon (no, not the last part).

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Owl: How long have you been teaching in Weston?

Megan: This is my fifth year teaching in Weston.

Owl: What is your role at Weston Public Schools?

Megan: I am an 8th grade special education teacher. I knew very early in my career that I wanted to work at the middle school level. It’s such an awkward time in everyone’s lives (see photo evidence), but I love the academic and social development that happens within this age group. 

Owl: Is this what you studied in school/college/graduate school?

Megan: One of the main reasons I chose Loyola in Maryland was their fifth year masters offering for Special Education. I was able to take enough credits as an undergraduate to complete my bachelors degree in Elementary Ed and then went right into the accelerated grad school program. I’ve always known I wanted to go into education, and have never had a job outside of teaching! (unless you count my one summer as a Weston Rec counselor)

Owl: What are the biggest challenges in your day? And the best moments? 

Megan: I would say one of my biggest challenges is probably finding enough time in the day to meet with general education teachers. Since I teach Strategies, I work with all of the core subject areas, and collaborate with our teachers to ensure that all students can access the curriculum. Working to accommodate every worksheet, assessment, and project across so many subjects (and 9 different teachers) definitely requires a lot of meetings and communication. 

The highlight of each and every day is easily the time I get to spend with my students. My favorite part of teaching is actually all of the bonding and learning that happens in between formal academic instruction. Earlier in the year during Advisory, I asked my students if there were any areas of special interest that they would be interested in. So far some of our topics have included the science of laughter, and a mini lesson on how the internet works (the subsea cables still keep me up at night).

Owl: How many students do you work with every day/week?

Megan: As a Strategies teacher, I typically have between 15 and 20 students assigned to my caseload. I really love getting to know other students in the grade though, so I usually open my x block sessions to all eighth graders, and request that my homeroom and advisory groups be made up of students I don’t usually work with. 

Owl: You are a Weston HS graduate? Did you grow up from day 1 in Weston?

Megan: I was in fourth grade when my family moved to Weston. I’ve been so lucky to not only receive an incredible education from the faculty here, but to continue to learn from them as coworkers. Many of the teachers I work with have had me as a student. 

Owl: Was John Gibbons your MS principal or teacher?

Megan: Mr. Gibbons was my principal! And fortunately for me, Mr. Oates and I started at WMS at the same time. We’ve got the most supportive admin at the middle school, and our faculty has created such a safe and welcoming environment. 

Owl: What do you like to do in your free time? 

Megan: In my free time I love to hang out with friends, play tennis, and travel. Most of my summer is spent reading on the beach, and over school breaks I usually travel to see my brothers (also WHS grads). This February break I’m taking a trip with some friends who teach in neighboring towns. 

Owl: What do you think is the superpower of Weston educators in general?

Megan: I think Weston teachers know how to set an incredibly high bar for our students, and our district provides some amazing learning opportunities. As someone who has constantly had to reflect on my own education, I feel really lucky to have had some amazing teachers and experiences throughout my time as a Weston student. 

Owl: What’s your favorite part of working in education?

Megan: My favorite part about education is that every block of the day is totally different. You could be teaching a lesson using the exact same materials and have the same  learning goal, but student questions, discussions, and prior knowledge make every class unique. It definitely keeps you on your toes!

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As everyone knows, the Owl loves writing profiles more than any other post–students, town employees, teachers, residents who do interesting things. Know someone doing fun things or likely to bring the Owl cookies to the interview? Send me a note at thewestonowl@gmail.com.

Enjoy your February break, Megan … and go ‘cats!