Get To Know: New Middle School Life Skills Teacher Marisa Smith

A portrait of middle school teacher Marisa Smith

Marisa Smith turned her playroom into a classroom as a child, so teaching has always been her passion. An East Allegheny and California University of Pennsylvania graduate, she majored in early childhood education and special education. Prior to coming to Steel Valley, Ms. Smith had experience at Brownsville, Uniontown and South Allegheny.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What drew you to education?

I have just always wanted to be a teacher since I was really little. My playroom was a classroom. I had my little brother and my little cousin, they were my students. I've always known that that's what I wanted to do.

For those who may not know, what is your role going to be at Steel Valley? Can you explain a little bit what that involves?

I will be the middle school life skills teacher. So I'm just making sure that we're meeting the goals of each student's IEP. I'm helping them reach those goals that have been put in place. I'll be doing language arts and social studies with them, as well as doing their resource with them. Since I'm still so new, I'm still just like getting into the swing of everything. It’s just helping them not even just with school, but emotionally and helping them adapt to different things and different instruction. That’s what we'll be doing in the life skills class.

You said you always knew you wanted to be a teacher. What was it about special education that drew you to that particular field over the course of your education?

I have a cousin who is autistic, so just growing up around him and seeing his aide be with him and things like that. I just wanted to learn more about it, because I was young and I didn't really know about it. And when I was in high school, there was another student who had autism and, he would always sit at our table. If anyone would bother him, he would come to me. He was actually my friend and I loved him so much. Whenever I would go out in public and he would see me, he would remember me. I just loved it. I wanted to do more, wanted to learn more and I wanted to be able to help more.

What’s it like working with middle school students? They’re at an age where a lot is going on. Is it fun? Is it challenging? A bit of both?

Even throughout my field experience, the highest I've worked with was fourth grade. So, this is going to definitely be a change, but I'm really excited for it. I'm really excited to work with middle schoolers.

What can students and parents expect from your classroom? Do you have a particular style or anything?

I'm trying to create like just a very calm, relaxing, welcoming environment. Even when they first come in, they can just feel like they're at home. They feel comfortable and they want to be there. That's pretty much what I'm doing right now. Overall, I just can't wait to get involved. I can't wait to meet their parents. I can't wait to just make those relationships and have those connections with them and their parents. So, I'm really excited for that.

A portrait of middle school teacher Marisa Smith