MACOMB, IL – Students in Pre-K through 12th grades in Macomb, West Prairie and Bushnell school districts have outstanding teachers who give it their all five-day-aweek (and then some). And many of those teachers were once students in the very schools where they're now teaching future generations.
Noelle Flynn, Sixth Grade Reading, Macomb Middle School A 1992 Macomb High School graduate, Noelle Flynn has been teaching in the Macomb School District since 2008, following her career path that she knew she wanted ever since she was a child.
'I think I started thinking about being a teacher when I was around five years old. Many of my family members were teachers and I have always held the profession in such high regard,' Flynn said. 'Also, I remember the teachers that changed my life and helped me see what I was capable of accomplishing, and I always knew if I could, I wanted to be able to help others in the same way.'
Her family has lived in Macomb for generations, and when she was about ready to graduate from Western Illinois University, she actually toyed with the idea of leaving Macomb. Instead, she decided to start a family and knew that her hometown was the right place to do that.
'After graduating with my master's in reading, I began teaching at Lincoln Elementary, first as a classroom teacher, then as a reading interventionist,' Flynn explained. 'From there I moved on to Edison, again as a classroom teacher and then an interventionist. Now I'm at MMS teaching 6th grade reading. I'm so honored to have had the opportunity to teach students from grades kindergarten to sixth grade.'
Her trajectory was shaped by such educators as Bob Meixner, Maria Dunstan, Ed Fulkerson and Rooney Dively who Flynn held in high regard. She also looked to them for the way they worked with students.
'My personal goal is to develop strong relationships with my students and provide them with all the supports they need (academically, emotionally, socially) to help them reach their full potential,' she added. 'The most rewarding part of my career is seeing students grow and become independent, critical thinkers. I feel honored to have developed strong relationships with my students over the years and continue to have current and former students contact me to let me know how they are doing, just to talk, or to get advice.'
Along with the rewards comes the challenges. For Flynn, it's realizing the hardships some students are going through and knowing that as a teacher, she must continue to teach the curriculum hoping that they can absorb it despite the challenges in their lives.
'Basically, as a teacher, it seems natural that you want to take care of everyone and everything, but you know that you can't,' Flynn shared.
As for advice for future classroom teachers: Believe in yourself, your passion, your 'why' for becoming an educator.
'Be ready for the unexpected,' Flynn concluded. 'Be open and flexible to change and new ideas. DON'T GIVE UP.'
Editor's Note: This concludes our Hometown Teachers Series. Thanks to all the teachers who took part. We appreciate you and the work you do every day!
