Mary Keats, Second Grade Teacher, Bushy Park Elementary School

January 4th, 2017

Mary Keats, a Bushy Park Elementary School second grade teacher, is a veteran educator who keeps her teaching fresh with the latest instructional practices coupled with her personal flair for making learning fun. Keats said, “I love to learn new ways of teaching. And I relate to kids well, so I do silly things to keep their attention.”

Keats enjoys teaching at the primary level because “the students are so willing to learn. They’re excited and appreciate things.” Over her 38 years of teaching, she has acquired a drawer of props and countless fun ideas to help carry out her lessons. Some of Keats’ favorite classroom practices include singing multiplication table songs and performing math magic tricks. She also regularly makes “mistakes” in her writing, so students feel empowered by their language mechanic skills.

On the more serious side, Keats said, “Most of my job is making children know that they can do what’s expected and that they’re capable. Lots of times when kids are challenged, they rise to the challenge and surprise themselves.” With this teaching philosophy, Keats motivates her students by asking them to set their own learning and standardized test goals for the academic year.

Keats uses her Strengths as an elementary teacher, particularly “relator,” “harmony” and “includer.” She feels very comfortable working with her kids, believes in creating a peaceful classroom environment and wants everyone to feel included. Upon her suggestion, the school now has a playground buddy bench, so kids sitting there can get asked to join in others’ play.

Bushy Park Principal Molly Ketterer said, “Mrs. Keats is a masterful teacher who excels at both knowing her learners and differentiating their instructional experiences. She is warm, empathetic and uses her strengths to build relationships with her students. These past few years, Mrs. Keats has crafted a connective, inclusive classroom environment that has served the needs of all of her students. Mrs. Keats is an example of a teacher who embodies lifelong learning to be the best teacher she can be.”

Keats always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She embarked on her career immediately after college teaching in the Archdiocese of Baltimore schools, before joining Bushy Park 16 years ago. She has taught kindergarten through fourth grade, along with taking additional roles as a private tutor, primary level team leader and mentor teacher to Howard Community College students. A longtime Howard County resident, her three sons graduated from Mount Hebron High School.

“I still get excited about the new group of kids each fall and where you can take them,” Keats said. “I love watching them grow and become confident in themselves. My favorite part of teaching is seeing them make progress. I like to make every child feel special. They’re all unique. I feel very blessed to teach.”