Teacher Spotlight: Media Elementary's Claire McGeehan

Teacher Spotlight is where we will feature a local teacher who deserves recognition. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do.

This Media Elementary School fourth-grade teacher has spent 15 years at the school and is ready for retirement. She says it was the hardest decision to decide to retire but she plans to stay on as volunteer and continue her role as a teacher in a new way.

Teacher: Claire McGeehan

School: Media Elementary School

Grade/Subject: 4th and 5th grades

Years in the industry:  41 years

Teaching History:

McGeehan has taught 15 years in the Rose Tree Media School District all at Media Elementary as a fifth and now fourth grade teacher. Prior to that she taught for 14 years in Lower Merion School District and two years in Florida. McGeehan also taught child development to child care providers for about 10 years.

Why did you become a teacher:

I became a teacher because I really believed that for everyone to have an equal chance in society, education had to great for every child, and I saw it in the early 70s as a way of equalizing opportunity. So I thought education was the most important job I could possibly do. I wanted to give every kid a chance.

What do you like most about your job:

I love the opportunity to get to know, every year, 20 to 25 kids who are full of ideas and creativity and interest in the world. It's really a privilege to have that opportunity to help young people to develop.

What do you hope your students get out of your classes:

I hope they learn that they are all capable of learning and succeeding. With focus and hardwork they can do whatever they choose to do.

If you could change anything about education, what would it be:

I would reduce the emphasis on testing. I would have a focus on the environment and allow kids a lot more exposure to the community and the outside world.

What do you like best about your current school:

This is my dream job. My three kids attended this school and when my youngest entered first grade and it was time for me to return to full time teaching, this is the job I wanted. There was a fifth grade opening and I was fortunate enough to get it. And I just feel so fortunate because I learned to love Media through my kid's experience here, which helped each one of them grow in their own special way. And then to be able to walk in and teach in what I already knew to be a terrific, academically strong, wonderful social environment that's supportive of kids. To be able to step in and be a part of that community in a different role, I was a part of it as a parent but now I'm a part of it as a teacher, and it's just fabulous.

How did you know it was time to retire:

It was a really tough decision and I didn't make it until the night before. But I decided that I'm going to come back as a volunteer next year and I hope to support the fourth and fifth grade teachers, as a volunteer. So I won't really be leaving. But there are many other things I want to do in my life. I've never had much opportunity to travel and my family needs my support. I have to change my focus a little but I'll still be here, in another form. I do feel that I've gotten to be in the right place. I was born in Virginia but Media is the right town to live in. Media is home for me. And Media Elementary School is the right place for me professionally. I feel like I've been really fortunate in my life to end up in places where I could be affective.

What are your plans for retirement:

My daughter is in South Africa doing study aboard and so I went to see her over Spring Break and it was actually on the 16-hour plane ride on the way home, the night before I had to make this decision, that I made it. I decided, this was my first International trip and I'm 64 years old, I really need to do more. It was beautiful. Africa had always been my dream trip and I got there.