Mary Kolousek
Mary Kolousek, a substitute for Gaston, Forest Grove and Banks school districts, has been a teacher for 17 years. The longtime teacher will be recognized by peers and administrators for her dedication to education.
Kolousek was nominated by Carol Gross, Gaston High School secretary. Kolousek’s positive, engaging style was apparent during a lesson in which she filled in for Julie Dexter, GHS Spanish teacher.
After students provided the right answers for “Jeopardy”-style questions such as, “Feminine for ‘we,’ (nosotras),” in Ponga, a Spanish-language form of bingo, Kolousek told students in a class of 15, “Good job,” or “There you go.”
Her personal touch was apparent as she apologized for a temporarily creaky voice: “Thank you, guys, for being patient with my voice – this is weird.”
Kolousek is a natural as a Spanish teacher. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and mathematics from Texas Tech University and got her teaching credentials from Portland State University. After briefly working for Texas Instruments in Texas as a computer programmer, she and husband Jim, an engineer at Intel’s Ronler Acres campus, moved with their children – Joe, now grown and living in Vancouver, Wash., and Martha, now a Gaston resident – back to the Portland area.
“I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so subbing really suited me,” Kolousek said of her choice to substitute rather than teach full-time. “I got my teaching credentials after volunteering in my kids’ classes and finding I really loved being in class. Subbing still works really well for me.”
Kolousek’s secrets to being the best sub in the state include making a seating chart as soon as possible, to learn students’ names quickly. “Calling kids by name makes a world of difference, in my class and having them respond to me in a positive way” she explained.
She said her greatest reward in teaching comes from continually relating to the same students. “I have the fun of watching them grow up, seeing changes.”
Kolousek’s biggest challenge is classroom management. “In some classes, there’s a hard mix of kids and personalities. I have to make sure I can absorb that, and give them what they need. I do what I can to keep the class moving, and ensure learning continues.”
If, rarely, a teacher does not provide a lesson plan, Kolousek uses classroom texts and materials to quickly make up one of her own. When subbing, she generally teaches six to seven classes a day.
“I have not had a bad day of subbing. One time, I helped a failing student get a B, because of my connection to him. I had a little more patience and gave him more personal attention, before and after school and during lunch.
“I love the kids. Every day when I come in, it’s a clean slate. I don’t hold grudges. I may take a deep breath, try hard to be friendly, because I really want to see the kids succeed. I really enjoy what I do.”