We are very pleased to announce that Mara Pauker ('07) will be the keynote speaker for the College of Education and Social Services Commencement Ceremony at the University of Vermont on May 22.

A rising leader in educational transformation and personalized learning, Mara is currently the Head of School at AltSchool New York. She is excited about the return to UVM. "It's an amazing honor to be invited to speak at commencement. This is also an opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on my life and professional accomplishments over the past ten years with two start up alternative schools, and to be recognized for taking an unconventional path." 

After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education at UVM in 2007, Mara relocated to New York City where she became a founding educator of the Blue School (orginally established by the Blue Man Group). She earned a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from New York University in 2014. In the fall of 2015, she accepted a position as the Head of School at the new AltSchool location in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Mara said that AltSchool students benefit from a "personalized learning plan that is tailored to their interests, challenges them academically, and supports them both as individuals and group members. Engineers work with educators to create products and systems that help students learn based on feedback from teachers and students."

Thinking back on her experience as a student before college, Mara remembers that school wasn't very enjoyable because it wasn't personalized to her interests. Learning felt more like a chore. But things really began to turn around after she enrolled at UVM, where she quickly discovered that learning could be fun. "I'm very proud of my educational roots at UVM, where they provided unique hands-on learning experiences and outstanding support that helped me grow to become successful as an educator. UVM challenged me and set me up for success. The Early Childhoold Education program holds students accountable to decide early on if they want this path, with early classroom experience in field practicums. This was a perfect fit for me as a hands-on learner." During one of her teaching experiences, Mara was a preschool teacher at the UVM Campus Children's School (CCS) where she was immersed in a social-constructivist approach to education with practices that echo the values of school in Reggio Emilia, Italy. "We learned how to engage students in a meaningful way that was real and tangible. The Reggio-inspired approach challenges educators to find the answer rather than providing a scripted manual."  

Amanda Ferguson, who was Mara's Mentor Teacher at the CCS, has vivid memories of her time at UVM, and the two have maintained a close personal and professional connection over the years.  "Mara arrived with the disposition of a strong teacher and was wonderful from the start. She was brave, curious, driven, and always willing to learn side by side with the children and her various mentors. Personally, she was authentic, humble, down to earth and willing to work hard. These characteristics are still true of Mara today, and have earned her teaching and leadership opportunities far beyond our school. The philosophical roots Mara developed at UVM, coupled with her passion, continued growth, and commitment to social justice shine brightly as she teaches preschoolers and leads her new school into the future.”

Mara also chose a concentration of coursework focusing on Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at UVM. "So many aspects of life apply to the HDFS curriculum - learning about self, family, relationships, and the world around you, to help gain a deeper understanding of people's lives. I remember learning how divorce affects so many children. HDFS painted a very real and whole picture."

Dr. Larry Shelton, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the HDFS program at UVM, has fond memories of Mara as an undergraduate student. "Mara was a very serious, responsible student. Everyone liked her. She was always cheerful, modest, and personable. I’m not surprised that she has gone on to leadership roles in alternative schools."

What does the future hold? Mara is working hard to manage the rapid growth of AltSchool in Brooklyn, where they will be adding several new classrooms to accommodate increasing enrollment. Additionally, she will be helping to facilitate another start up location for AltSchool in Manhattan. Her mission is clear. "I want to inspire young students to become lifelong learners by discovering ways to embrace their individual interests and talents." In other words, Mara will continue to make learning fun for the students - the way she wished it could have been when she was growing up.  

The College of Education and Social Services Commencement Ceremony is free and open to the public. No RSVP or tickets are required.