Each year, Director of Enrollment, Megan Campbell makes a contribution to Friends School of Portland in honor of her grandparents. When she was growing up, her grandparents would make a donation in her honor to the school she attended in order to provide scholarships and tuition assistance for families. She continues that tradition now by donating in honor of her grandparents, Phyllis and Ted Campbell.
During Megan’s first year at FSP as a teacher, she was surprised to learn that her grandmother also taught at a Friends School. This spring, Megan and her grandmother talked about their first years teaching at a Friends School. Megan at Friends School of Portland and Phyllis at Friends School of Baltimore.
Megan shared that, “we both went into our first years teaching at a Friends School with little to no knowledge of what that meant. As my grandmother was remembering her experience, it struck me how much she felt supported coming into an unknown situation and space. Although I did go to school for teaching, my path at FSP has been anything but linear, and I too have felt so loved and held by this community.”
Here is a bit more of what Megan and her Ama, Phyllis, shared about their conversation.
Megan: What did you teach at Friends School of Baltimore?
Phyllis: I taught in the early childhood ed classrooms. The 4s classroom, and I remember that there was a 3s classroom and a 5s classroom in our building, and that we were in our own building in the corner of campus. Our building had at one point been a house, so my classroom felt like one big living room – and it probably had been!
Megan: Can you remember what a normal day consisted of?
Phyllis: Oh yes! I had 22 students I believe, and I had another teacher in the room with me. We always started our morning with free play, and then we would move to circle time. I would teach them a song, or we would play a game, or I would read a book. I remember that they had rest time after lunch, and they would bring their blankets and stuffed animals and find a spot on the floor. That was when I would do my planning for the next day. I remember that we would walk over to the playground and we wouldn’t have a set time we would go inside. Every day we would gauge how long the children felt like they needed to be outside. Many of the students would go home at lunch, so we would have a smaller group in the afternoon. And twice a year I would do parent-teacher conferences.
Megan: What was special about that year of teaching?
Phyllis: I really enjoyed being around the kids, and getting a chance to work with the other women in the building. I remained friends with some of them for many years after. It was my first year out of college, and my first full time job, so it will always be special. One of the things I really loved was that I was asked to be the Director of the Summer Programs that summer, and I had a lot of fun with that! I will always remember that time fondly.
Every gift helps make a powerful and important impact in our annual budget. Each gift that is made comes with care and thought from each member of our community.
We are thrilled to share that we have met and exceeded this year’s Annual Fund goal of $113,500. 237 friends and families have contributed so far!
Make a gift by June 30, 2023, to support this school year's Annual Fund.