Best of 2015

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico Marisa’s family
moved to Tucson in 1986. She graduated from Sahuaro
High School in 1990 but did not go straight to college after
high school, instead, she focused on being a mom of two
amazingboys, Cadden and Colby. Marisa started taking night
classes at Pima Community College when her son, Cadden,
was 2 and she was pregnant with Colby. By the time Cadden
was in kindergarten, she was daring enough to take some day
classes at the University of Arizona. Colby, who was 3 at the
time, would go to some of her classes with her.
“One class in particular, an elementary music class, was his
favorite. The class loved having him there because we could
practice lessons with him. He thought he was so cool and
he claimed he was a college student. It took me 6 years to
complete all my classes and student teaching but I did it.”
She says. Marisa graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in
Elementary Education in December 1999.
In July 2000, Marisa was hired to teach 2nd grade at E.C.
Nash Elementary in the Amphitheater School district. “One
day, this crazy kindergarten teacher asked if I had ever
thought about teaching kindergarten. I went in to observe his
class and loved what I saw. I talked to the principal and got
the ok to move to kindergarten. I was so excited and looked
forward to the next school year. Then came August. What
that crazy Kindergarten teacher failed to mention to me was
kindergarten in August was not the same as kindergarten
in April. They cry, they run, they are everywhere. After that
first day I went to his room and asked WHY? Why did he not
warn me about kindergarten in August? He told me to take a
breath and get through the first few weeks. I did. I survived.
They survived. Ifell in love with kindergarten and taught it for
12 years.” She proudly states.
“I love engaging,
challenging, listening
to, questioning and
supporting my students.
I love learning from
them and teaching them.
I love laughing with
them.”
Marisa ended up marrying that crazy kindergarten teacher
who talked her into teaching kindergarten. They have been
married for 12 years (13 in October). They were lucky enough
to teach next door to each other for 7 years and every August
she would go into his classroom and ask him “why?”. Marisa’s
husband, Michael, is the Principal at Lulu Walker Elementary.
“We have raised two wonderful sons. Our oldest son, Cadden,
23, is finishing up his service in the U.S. Army. He and his
wife Laura will be moving back to Tucson this fall. Our
youngest son, Colby, 21, is working at Wells Fargo. I am very
proud of both of them and blessed to be their mom.” Marisa
says with joy.
Marisa is beginning her 16th year of teaching. She taught
most of her teaching career at Nash. “I moved to Prince
Elementary for a couple of years and nowI am at Mesa Verde
Elementary teaching 1st grade. I love engaging, challenging,
listening to, questioningand supporting my students. I love
learning from them and teaching them. I love laughing
with them. I especially love encouraging kindness. I want
to inspire them to be their best. Above all I want to instill a
love of learning and a love of reading into each one of my
students. I am blessed to have the career I always wanted.
The best feeling is when former students hug me, tell me all
the wonderful things they are doing and say thank you Mrs.
McConnell.”
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