Mary Cott was not always an outgoing person. As a younger student she was incredibly shy, and she was repeatedly invited by her instructors to participate more in classroom activities. This memory often influences her as a Windward teacher, but it is her attraction toward education that played an all-too-important role in her journey.

“When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to go to a small liberal arts college, but I wasn’t set on a major yet. I realized I was always looking at a college’s education program,” she said. This interest grew as she navigated her way through higher education, minoring in the subject and even finding on-campus work in the SALT program: Students as Learners and Teachers. “I met with professors every week and held discussions about learning. We focused a lot on diversity, equity, and making education accessible. It allowed me to get a pulse on both the students and the teachers.” The effect of those experiences inspired her to contribute to her professors’ publications and, eventually, find her way to Windward.

“When I was looking at assistant teacher positions, Windward really stood out to me, because I love the language arts program, and because Windward keeps their teachers-in-residence (TIRs) after the two-year program is over. A lot of other schools don’t do that.” Ms. Cott recently completed her own TIR program, taking a position as a lead teacher during the 2023-2024 school year. “I value all the lessons I’ve learned up until now, but I’m continually learning, and everyone here is so supportive.”

Ms. Cott has already made an impact on her students. Whether she’s checking in with them individually or as a group, Ms. Cott’s dedication to relationship building is at the forefront. “I bond with kids who were like me— quiet or shy—but it’s also so important to nurture comfortable relationships for all my students. What makes teaching so special for me is finding little moments of connection, like making a silly joke without derailing class.” Those moments can occur during Ms. Cott’s favorite period of the day, read aloud, or even during what she calls the mindful moment: “Ms. Sands suggested it during a faculty meeting one day, and I thought it would be a great thing to try when I noticed the students getting a little too wiggly. I just stop and say, ‘Okay, let’s have a mindful moment!’” These moments can be anything ranging from reaching up to the sky to watching a 30-second video. In many ways, Ms. Cott still sees herself as a student, with a continual awareness that there is always something new to learn.