U-46 Team Member Mary Juvingo

Mary Juvingo, Physical Education and Health Teacher at Kenyon Woods Middle School

Mary Juvingo What are some of your daily work responsibilities?
I teach middle school students physical education and health.  I couldn't imagine working with any other level. It is truly never a dull day with students who I like to call the "hormonal crazies."  Aside from teaching, I am part of the PE and Health Curriculum Writing teams at the District level. I am a Co-Chair of the Resiliency Team and have been a part of the School Improvement Plan team.

How long have you worked for U-46?
Nineteen years. 

What is it like to work for the District where you attended school and from which you graduated and what does it mean to you?
I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. And I couldn't imagine being a teacher in any other district.  My loyalties lie with U-46! The fact I am now giving back to support student learning in the same district that I graduated from is the best. I'm all about paying it forward!  

Which U-46 schools did you attend?
Bartlett Elementary, Tefft Middle, and Elgin High School.

What year did you graduate from high school?
1997.

What was your favorite subject and why?
Physical Education - of course - that is what I teach, I love sports and the concepts of fitness and being healthy. But if I had to pick a different subject it would be either math or art (sculpture.) The reason they are my favorites is because of the people who taught these subjects to me along the way.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?
I have had many along the way which provided me the inspiration to become a teacher. It's difficult to just pick one. Each person played an integral role in helping me become the person I am today. 

Mrs. Broeker - my 5th grade teacher at Bartlett Elem. 

Mrs. Sindelar - my 7th grade PE teacher at Tefft

Mrs. Azinger - my Art/Sculpture teacher at EHS

Ms. Harris - my counselor at EHS
Mrs. Rothlisberger - my Geometry teacher at EHS

 

Please share a favorite memory from your time as a student in U-46.I have many fond memories of my time being a student in U-46. I remember one memory in particular from my time at Tefft which is actually kind of funny looking back now. I was in sewing class. The class was fun, but I struggled to thread my machine to actually get it to sew anything. Then one day I thread the machine perfectly to then sew my project as straight as I could. I was so proud of myself that I remember pulling the material away from the machine to find that I had sewn the sleeve of my shirt to the project. As I held the project up, so went my arm and sleeve too. It was the teachable moment;the care, and encouragement the teacher provided that helped me continue to strive to try again - this was a lesson that I would then carry throughout my life (shout out to Mary Anderson, my sewing teacher.) In becoming a teacher, I promised myself when I first started teaching to create a rapport with my students to show them the same kind of care, compassion, and encouragement along the way.

Briefly describe your post-secondary college and/or career experience.
Judson University - Graduated 2001 with a BA in Physical Education
Emporia State University - Graduated 2005 with a MS in Health, Phys. Ed. Recreation
Univ. of Kansas - Graduated 2018 with a MS in Educational Admin./Building Leadership

My student teaching experience also occurred in U-46.  Since my degree from Judson is K-12, I had to have experience at each level - Highland and Fox Meadow Elementary, Abbott Middle, and Dream Academy.

Maybe one day I hope to become a Curriculum Coordinator to utilize my Administrative skills in the district or teach at the college level.  But for right now, I am completely happy teaching at Kenyon Woods - Go Panthers!

What important life or academic lesson did you learn in U-46?
Obstacles only get in the way when we lose sight of our goals.