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| Marcia Merrifield |
Merrifield is particularly gifted in teaching students who are English learners. Her principal, David Ortiz, commends her excellence in effective teaching, her dedication, and her passion for guiding students to future success. He sees her emphasis on ongoing effort, engagement in learning, and working through adversity as keys to her success. Says principal Ortiz, “Highly effective teachers such as Marcia Merrifield make the difference in students’ lives. Her gift is clear and unrelenting — love, support, and caring.”
Ms. Merrifield started teaching in Michigan, moved to Washington State, then moved to Santa Barbara, where she earned her Master’s Degree at UCSB.
Ms. Merrifield says reading has been her passion, and that her Master’s program included an emphasis in reading. She agreed to train to teach an intensive reading intervention program designed for English learners five years ago. Her goal was to get her students reading at their grade level as quickly as possible. She wanted her English learners to have equal access to any curriculum.
“I believe all students can learn,” Merrifield says. “All students should be given an opportunity for a college or career future. My students often ask why they have to do this assignment or that assignment. My response to them is because you can, and I will guide you.”
“I know that I am just part of their journey toward becoming productive adults,” she concludes. “However, I get a thrill to hear from the occasional former student. One student came back to school to visit and told me he could ‘hear my voice’ as he wrote his English assignments in ninth grade. He wanted to tell me that he is now in the Honors English program at his high school.”
Ms. Merrifield has three children, Joe, Clark, and Lauren, and three grandchildren, with a fourth due in April.
Santa Barbara Rotary congratulates Marcia Merrifield as an outstanding teacher and is providing a check for $1,000 to be used in the classroom.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara meets at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara for lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Recipients of the club’s Teacher Recognition Awards are made with the assistance of the Teacher Programs and Support Department of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
For more information, visit teacherprograms.sbceo.org or santabarbararotary.com.
