Polly Moak

Hi, I’m Polly Moak and I am delighted to be your child’s teacher!  I am passionate about the art, craft, and science of teaching. I enjoy children tremendously and care deeply about them.  I began my teaching career in Fulton, Mississippi, at Itawamba Agricultural High School in 1973-74.  I taught Family Living  (Home Economics.)  Through the years, I raised my own children, volunteered in their schools, and assisted in a program called “Make Parenting a Pleasure.”  I  led and taught children and youth at a camp accredited by the American Camping Association (Camp Hopewell, seven miles from Oxford, Mississippi), serving different summers as Cabin Counselor, the Arts and Crafts Leader, Recreation Leader, and as the Assistant Program Director.  I served one year as a Girl Scout leader of my daughter’s troop, and was a Girl Scout myself for eleven years while growing up.

While at the University of Oregon, I was a Graduate Teaching Fellow in Women’s Studies, teaching “Introduction to Women’s Studies” for two years and a course I designed one summer. I have taught classrooms at every grade level of elementary school in my teaching career.  This is my third year teaching first grade. Before becoming a classroom teacher, I spent four years as a substitute teacher in Eugene 4j School District.  It was interesting and helpful to be in many classrooms and see many different teaching styles. I am certified  to teach Kindergarten through 12th grade Home Economics classes, as well as Kindergarten through Eighth Grades,  and I have an additional Endorsement as a Reading Specialist. For some years I served on the school district Math Enthusiasts’ Task Force. I also served on the committee to adopt a new reading/language arts curriculum, and have been a Title One Reading Teacher.

My educational background includes a Bachelors of Science with Honors from the University of Mississippi, a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University and some additional study at the graduate level in history at the University of Oregon and in education at Pacific University. I do my utmost to offer children an educational experience that is rich and deep,  in a setting where each child feels loved, valued and understood–by me as well as by each other. Creating a community of learners who help each other learn is very important. As a child, I attended a superb elementary school which was the laboratory school for Teachers’ College, Columbia University in New York City. This school is the mental image I hold of a good school, and it is the kind of education I seek to offer my students.  I also attended public school in Oxford, Mississippi, where my family moved in 1960 after our time in New York City. I learned a lot from the Civil Rights Movement and am grateful for its impact. Doing my part to help build a just and peaceful world is important to me–I seek to help students learn to share in this important work.

Crystal Thomas and Heather Wilson

Watch for information to be added about Crystal and Heather!