“When I was a little kid, me and my best friend always dreamed we’d become teachers,” says Mary Funes, a second grade teacher at Tara Oaks Elementary. “I knew I wanted to work with kids. It’s just something that I always knew I wanted to do. And as my own kids grew up, I knew that teaching was where I was going to.”
Funes is a longtime Memphian who grew up in the Collierville area. Though she did not formally begin teaching until later in life, she was always finding ways to teach others. “I was always involved in church and taught Sunday school,” she says. “I would also do a Wednesday support class at church, so I’ve just continually worked with kids.”
While Funes enjoyed working with kids, there was a deeper layer to the work she was doing. When she began teaching, reflection on what various teachers had done for her in the past was a big part of helping Funes define her teaching style.
“Some teachers really stuck out to me as wonderful, amazing teachers, but then you also have those who didn’t really understand [some students’ needs],” she says. “So one of my things is that some kids need a little bit extra, or kids who struggle with certain things need to know that I love to help them. I have patience and empathy, and that goes a long way. And I feel like that’s where sometimes the parents and I can really connect, because they understand that I’m here for the kids and I’m not just teaching them academically. I truly believe in the whole — the whole self.”
Part of her drive to work with kids in the classroom comes from her own struggles as a student. At a young age, Funes struggled in classes but says that her teachers always pushed her to do her best. In her classes today, Funes works to try and meet students at points where they are struggling and push them to accomplish more.
“My goal is to meet the students’ needs, where they need to be met,” she says. “This past year with COVID has been completely different. There are more challenges out there, like not being able to work one-on-one, or being able to work with small groups. I love being able to see where they’re lacking, but also where they are when they succeed. Especially with kids who struggle, it’s so important to take each step, even if it’s a baby step, and just let them know that that’s a huge accomplishment.”
At Tara Oaks, Funes has put her philosophy into practice. One of the main jobs of the second grade teacher is teaching reading, something that can be hit or miss for many students.
“I’ve had several kids who really struggle with reading,” Funes says. “When the light bulb turns on, and when they see how excited you are for them, they get this sense of pride. And that is when I feel the best, when I see that they feel they have exceeded and succeeded.”
Another thing Funes tries to encourage in her classroom is being okay with making mistakes and focusing on how to move past them. Students who struggle in her class are never chastised; she instead works to try to build up their spirits.
“Sometimes my classroom might seem a little strict, but each kid knows that they are loved,” she says. “One of my biggest mottos is, ‘It is okay to make mistakes.’ I let them know all the time that I am full of mistakes; I make them on a daily basis, but what we want to do is learn from those mistakes and grow. I want to be extended grace when I make mistakes, so I’m going to extend grace when my students do.”
While the University of Memphis graduate attributes some of her success to the college’s education program, a large part of her success relates to her general love of teaching. “I love going to work every single day. I love getting up. Those kids are the highlight of my day,” Funes says. “If you really feel that you should go into the teaching profession, then absolutely follow your dream. It’s not for everybody, but it’s so rewarding.”
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