Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1036712
Member Spotlight 5 Mariah Learned is an Early Career Educator Taking the Lead in Her Local When Mariah Learned says she has done just about everything for the Albany County School District #1, she means it. Since age 17, Mariah worked doing pool and building maintenance, eventually becoming a detention monitor, Saturday-school monitor, and custodian. Mariah also worked as a paraprofessional in special education and technology. Now, she is a Title 1 Math and Reading interventionist. But, she does so much more. She serves as the co-president of the Albany County Education Association (ACEA), the Vice-President of the WEA Southeast Region, and as a member on the PACE Steering Committee, PACE Council, the Meet and Confer Committee, as well as numerous policy committees. Thus, in addition to teaching, she works hand-in-hand with district employees, board members, and the superintendent of the district. Mrs. Learned, or "Mrs. Learn-it" as some students call her, refl ected that, "I always wanted to be a teacher. My mom loves to tell stories about me rounding up all the neighborhood kids for Mariah's School as early as my preschool years and teaching them what I learned that day." Mariah has a desire to be an educator and to see other educators succeed. She said, "I love watching students have those light bulb moments, . . . . You can literally see that magic happen in their eyes." Mariah believes that opportunities to advocate for students and educators exist every day. Maybe that is why she has been told that she has a huge heart, a condition quite often found in great educators. Mariah's teaching eff orts match her eff orts as ACEA co-president. Recently, ACEA faced familiar problems of leaders needing a break, transitioning administration, and a membership that was not engaged. ACEA needed