Meet St. Annies Teacher Marilyn Selgrade

Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. After 39 years of teaching, Marilyn Selgrade has retired with a book full of memories teaching.

Name: Marilyn Selgrade

School:

Grade/Subject(s): Fourth Grade/Science, ELA, and Religion

Years in the Industry: 39 years

Teaching History: I gave piano lessons for 14 years in my home and in my students' homes. After graduating from West Chester University, I took a position as a sixth-grade teacher at St. Anastasia where I taught science, regular math and honors Math for nin years. I then moved to fourth grade. I have been teaching fourth grade for 16 years.

What do you like most about your job? 

I love working with fourth graders because they are so enthusiastic and curious. There is never a dull moment in science class. They enjoy the experiments as much as I do. It makes me feel so good when a student says, "Is class over already?"

I also enjoy the camaraderie with my grade partners and the other staff members. They are a wonderful group of intelligent, hard-working people. I will miss them so when I retire.

Why did you become a teacher? 

In my first two years of college, I worked in the summer in a pediatric ward of a hospital. I realized how much I enjoyed being around young people. I still feel that way today. They make me feel young. I'm always surprised to see how little they really are when I see them outside of school.

What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of): 

From my first years in sixth grade until now I have been involved in the . I look forward to it each year. The whole school participates. It's a beautiful ceremony to honor Mary.

We have been so lucky to have Msgr. Cribben as our pastor and strong supporter of our school. He is the reason for our new addition.

There are so many service projects and academic activities occuring in our Blue Ribbon school. Service includes MLK day activities, , , buying clothes for the needy at Christmas, just to name a few. Academicly, we have a successful science fair each year. We participate in the Reading Oympics and have guest authors who come twice a year. We have a choir and an award-winning band.

I'm so proud to say I am part of the St. Annie's family.