Where did you grow up? Wakefield, Massachusetts
Years in education: 20
Years at Blue Point Elementary: 6
How did you end up in Scarborough?
My husband, Scott Daigle, got a job at Scarborough Middle School. We lived in Hollis at the time and I taught there. I was looking for a transition. Once I got the job here, we started thinking how nice it would be to have our kids to go to school in Scarborough. It was a dream to buy a house here and we were able to right at the beginning of COVID, in March 2020, when no one was buying.
I fell in love with this school the minute I walked in the door. Even before that, actually, because this school is in such a beautiful setting. I had never driven down Pine Point Road until my interview. To drive down that road and see the marsh and even be able to smell the ocean some days, it’s magical. I got such a good feeling when I walked in here. I felt like I was meant to be here.
How did you get into teaching?
In middle school I volunteered at a summer school. There was a boy there who struggled in the classroom and I made a connection with him that really helped him. I knew then that I wanted to have those connections with kids.
What’s your favorite part of the school day?
I love the very first minutes when kids come into the classroom. They’ve got huge smiles and they’re ready to start a new day. Their faces light up when they see each other.
What’s your favorite time of the school year?
January, when we do civil rights and Martin Luther King Jr. We really bring out the idea of acceptance and kindness. Kids learn that they can have an impact with their words. That’s something that all kids have to learn.
What do you love about your job?
First graders are excited to come to school and eager to learn. They also love each other, and they’re so open about loving each other. It’s a love fest! It makes it really fun.
What would most surprise people about your job?
How busy and on-your-toes you have to be all day when you’re working with children. It can be completely different from one day to the next. You’re not just delivering information to them – you’re supporting them as they navigate friendships and life struggles. Every day is different. You have to think on your feet and be flexible.
What makes Blue Point Elementary unique?
We place a huge emphasis on kindness, friendship, and being respectful of each other. And the educators are exceptional. They all love what they do and I can go to any of them if I have questions. I learn so much from my colleagues. Everyone cares about each other and checks in with each other. It’s just a really wonderful place – there’s laughter in the hallways.
On the day I was interviewed, I heard the morning announcements while I was waiting. They were congratulating the students: “We had 173 ‘thank you’s to our door holder this morning.” That’s what this place is. Performance is important but it’s not just about test scores. It’s about kindness and compassion, and teaching kids those social skills they’ll need later in life.
What is your greatest hope for Blue Point?
That it continues to be a community where everyone supports each other, both adults and children.
What’s something no one knows about you?
Perhaps that I’ve officiated weddings. It started when my husband and I married and a friend performed the ceremony. When she got married a year later, she said, “Now you have to return the favor.” I’ve married my sister, two friends, a colleague, and my mother-in-law.
What does Principal Kelly Mullen-Martin bring to Blue Point as a lifelong educator?
So much rests on a principal’s shoulders. All the communication with the community. I have a lot of respect for the job she does. Her door is always open. She’s always available for those conversations. Our school is such a welcoming, nurturing place and all that comes from her.
