2024 Bexley Educator of the Year
Montrose Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Mary Young is the 2024 Bexley Educator of the Year. The award is presented annually to a Bexley educator whose leadership, dedication, extraordinary achievements and commitment to the classroom and the community have made a difference in childrens’ lives. The surprise announcement was made in Young’s classroom at Montrose on May 16.
Young graduated from Capital University with a BA in Early Childhood Education. She taught Pre-Kindergarten at Bexley United Methodist Preschool (BUMP) prior to being hired as an instructional Aide for the School District in 2014. In 2015, Young began her career as a Montrose Kindergarten teacher. Her classroom has been compared to a garden where she nurtures each student with patience, kindness, encouragement and love in order for them to thrive. According to one of her students who wanted to add his voice to the nomination, “she makes me feel happy and good in my heart.” According to parent and peer nominators, Young “just seems to know what children and parents need.” She embraces neurodiversity and inclusion and creates a warm, welcoming and safe environment for learning and social and emotional growth. Young embraces families as partners and regularly communicates in regard to “academics, friendships, challenges, celebrations and everything in between.”
Young has a deep connection to the Bexley community and to Montrose. She creates opportunities for student teaching in her space and is a building leader, heading up the Sunshine/Social Committee with her fellow educators. Young joins the list of past Bexley Educator of the Year Award recipients which include her aunt, Molly McCarrick who has taught at Montrose for the past 40 plus years.
The Bexley Educator of the Year Award is sponsored by the Glick Family Fund at the Columbus Jewish Foundation and facilitated by the Bexley Education Foundation. Mrs. Young will ride in the Bexley July 4 Independence Day Parade and officially accept her award at the back-to-school convocation in August.
