Mary Maggio began her career at Persell Middle School 29 years ago. This year, she begins a new chapter in her career as a district instructional coach.

After graduating from SUNY Geneseo 29 years ago, Mary Maggio mailed her cover letter and resume to more than 200 schools across New York state.

The second school to request her to interview was Persell Middle School.

“When I returned home from the interview, there was a message at my house that I needed to call Persell School immediately,” she recalled. “Joann (DeMarco, then the Persell principal) offered me a job as a 7th grade science teacher immediately.”

Since then, Persell has become her professional home.

“The Persell staff has always been part of my family,” Maggio said. “When I first moved to Jamestown, several teachers took me under their wing and made me feel welcome and valued. I admire my colleagues at Persell — they inspire me to always do what’s best for students.”

While the building still remains her homebase, Maggio is transitioning into a new role this school year as one of 10 districtwide instructional coaches across Jamestown Public Schools. In this role, she’ll work with new teachers at Persell and Washington, and help the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards in science classrooms at the middle school level.

The opportunity to help mentor and work with new teachers enticed Maggio.

“Over my career, I have mentored many new teachers and hosted numerous student teachers. I have really enjoyed helping young teachers get started on their career,” she said.

Her background as both a teacher and coach informs her approach.

“I feel like I have worked very hard over my career to improve my art of teaching science. I love to collaborate with my colleagues, and I’m constantly trying new things. When you coach a sport, you need to help every player improve for the betterment of the team. I think the same is true for a school.”

“Mary has been a beloved member of Persell for nearly three decades, and her impact on both students and colleagues has been immeasurable,” said Persell Middle School Principal Traci Thompson. “Her dedication, her passion for science, and her willingness to mentor others make her a natural fit for this new role. We’re incredibly proud to see her share her gifts with the entire district.”

Though her role has expanded, Maggio’s love for Jamestown remains steady.

“I grew up in a rural town, and attended a small K-12 school,” said Maggio. “I never imagined that I would end up in a city school district. When I started at Persell, I realized each building is its own small community. My favorite part of being a teacher has been seeing my former students do amazing things both in Jamestown, and around the world.”