Mrs. Merry

Mrs. Merry has been teaching for 15 years at DCIS, 20 years in Etiwanda, and 25 years total. She is retiring to enjoy her next chapter of life in Texas. Like most retirees, she’s wrestled with the challenge of separating the emotional aspect of work and home.  

“This is probably the most difficult part of the job because teaching is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You never truly leave it. You think about your students all the time. For 10 months they come home with you in your head and heart. You try to figure out ways to reach each of your students – make your lessons valuable, and for your students to find significance in themselves. You think of ways to pour into them and make an impact. Your students become part of your family and at times, at the cost of your family. Healthy boundaries are critical and sometimes they get blurred and are difficult to separate. For the last 25 years, that has been a work in progress for me and it has not been easy,” said 7th-grade teacher, Mrs. Merry. 

Teaching is not a job for many but a lifestyle. Mrs. Merry wanted to be able to “see some of [her] lowest students, students who thought they were not ‘smart’ or could not succeed become successful and start believing in themselves.” 

She has enjoyed seeing her students grow up and cites this as one of the most fulfilling moments of her career. 

“Watching my students grow up and become successful adults contributing to our country. I keep in contact with so many of my former students and it has been amazing to watch who they have become; government leaders, teachers, lawyers, doctors, business owners, wonderful moms, and dads, etc. This makes my heart full, especially when we meet up and get to spend time together. A few of my former students teach at Los Osos and Rancho Cucamonga High Schools. Some were even my youngest son’s teachers,” she said. 

Students make mistakes and some teachers never give them the chance to reflect and change. But Mrs. Merry wanted to help those students who’ve attempted to grow from their mistakes. 

“Take the time to get to know your students. Do not judge them based on what other teachers or adults tell you. Give them a chance to let you discover who they are. Let your room be a safe haven for them and a place of second chances. But also hold your students accountable, especially in a society where accountability seems to no longer exist,” Mrs. Merry said.