School and Community Winter 2023

What are you most excited about this year during your presidency? I am super excited this year to be part of the new normal in our society and within MSTA. We’ve all had so much trauma in the past few years throughout the pandemic and it’s exciting to be part of resetting and creating a new baseline for what normal is. We’ve got to work together to be better and that’s totally where we’re at now. I want to continue with the things that Halley [Russell] and Chuck [Martin] and the previous presidents have started and to be a voice for educators at the Capitol and everywhere in the state. I hope to boost the overall sense of morale and be the champion of getting teachers the respect they deserve. Teaching is really hard right now. Actually, education in general is hard. It’s difficult to be a student, it’s difficult to be a teacher and it’s also difficult to be a parent. I think we should all remember to look at it through the right lens and work together. We need to remember that we’re all on the same team and we’re all working collectively toward empowering students and creating a better society. What are some facts about yourself that others may not know? I love to travel and go on road trips to weird places. We went to the Jell-O Museum, the world’s smallest city block and the world’s largest pecan. I love interesting things like that. Also on my list is the largest ball of twine and the SPAM Museum. We all need to have more spontaneity in life to do things like that. Steve and I often kayak with friends and play board games. That’s where you can find us on Friday nights – playing board games and going out to eat Mexican food. Our four daughters are all out of the house. Our oldest and youngest both live in Springfield and our middle two live in Baltimore and Oklahoma. Another thing about me is that I decorate my classroom with the ampersand symbol and even have it tattooed as a sign of perseverance. Is there anything else that you’d like for MSTA members to know about you? I’m in the classroom every day just like you. I have struggles and hard days and fantastic days. I am here for you 100% and really want you to know that you can reach out to me at any time with the hard stories if you’re going through a tough time, or the success stories and funny stories. I will do my best to do the same. We are here together; we will support each other, and we will make this year the best year ever.

Clockwise from top left: The Blakley family enjoys time together. Students gather with Blakley at lunch. Mookie rests after a hard day of being Dog President of MSTA. Sixth-graders visit with Blakley in the hallway.

S&C WINTER 2023 | 15