NAME:
Mrs. Margy Jarem
SCHOOL:
Lansingburgh High School
CLASS:
English 10 Pre-Ap, English 10, English 11 A.I.S.
SCHOOL PHONE:
233-6806
Mrs. Jarem has been in school all her life, either as a student or, as now,
a teacher. "School has always been a place where I have found creativity,
wonder and much joy." A product of the 1950's and 1960's, Mrs. Jarem often
says that she's now living a second life just by being in and among young
people. "I'm never bored," she often says,"and I just hope there's enough
time to do all the things I'd like to experience and to create."
After graduation from Tamarac-Brittonkill, Hudson Valley Community College
provided excellent opportunities for establishing the first major step to
building a college career. "I am their biggest Alumni fan, and they don't
even know it!" she often boradcasts to her stduents. From the excellent
teachers and extra curricular experieces at HVCC, Mrs. Jarem completed a
double-major from Hartwick College and received her first exposure to living
and working in a foreign country. "While a student in England, I met other
students from all over the world, and much like myself, many of the people I
met were passionate about wanting to work with young people and to teach."
After several years working at the State Capitol in lobbying and writing, as
well as social work in rural Appalachia, Mrs. Jarem returned to an overseas
residence teaching and working for some five years in Cairo, Egypt,
Amrtisar, India and Irbid, Jordan. "My travel in those days was before
computers. I wasn't dependent on cell phones or other form of quick
contact. I was truly immersed in these cultures for long stretches of time
and learned so much about what is of value in this world, why being an
American is such a precious priviledge, and how I know I'll never be bored
for even one minute; there's so much to learn, to see, to think about and to
experience in this world." From these early experiences, Mrs. Jarem gained
invaluable experience in working with children and college stduents, and she
began in earnest to try to be more of a writer, herself. "My first writings
were all journal-type things. Then, I wanted to share some of the unusual
things that I had experienced, so I started to write about seeing Anwar
Sadat up close in Egypt or drinking yak milk in India. At that point, I was
writing memoir. I'm now starting to write about what I imagine other
people/characters must be thinking or feeling and have taken on human issues
and dramas. These scribblings are shared with my writing group, so they get
to tear me down. In a way I am reminded of my own students' nervouness and
uneasiness to write and to turn something in, so I think being a writer
helps me be a better teacher, in a way, too."
In addition to these early years, Mrs. Jarem went on to graduate with a
Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from the College of St. Rose and
the National Writing Project 2006. She has been in the Lansingburgh
District since the mid-90's. Mrs. Jarem claims that, "This is
exactly the place where I am supposed to be. I am very proud to be a
teacher at LHS and count my blessings every day for that. None of what I
have and do now could ever be possible without the loving help and support
of my family. Our family mission: Help one another realize their dreams!"
Every student will improve as a reader, as a writer, as a listener and as a
speaker. I hope for each student to realize their talents and to be willing
to be to go even further in those talents.
Remember: Your goal is to "read like a writer and to write like a reader."
I hope to prove to you, also, that "There is ALWAYS something to write
about!"
