Mary Barousse left the business world 25 years ago to pursue a career in teaching, something she said is one of the best decisions she ever made in her life.
Bourousse, a teacher at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center, is the facility’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year.
Barousse is in her second stint with Poplar Bluff schools, teaching from 1997 to 2002 and again from 2011 to the present. She’s also taught in Texas and Louisiana during her career.
A graduate of McNeese State University and later the University of Houston, where she earned her teaching certification, Barousse brings two and a half decades of experience to school each day and sums up how she feels about teaching with a favorite quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky — “The soul is healed by being with children.”
Barousse was nominated for Teacher of the Year honors by fellow teachers Christy Smith, Shelly Johnson, Tonya Hill and Amanda Summers.
“She encourages active learning in her classroom and creates an exciting learning environment,” they said, while also noting Barousse “is a compassionate individual that seeks the good in everyone. She has a positive manner when dealing with students and adults. She seeks to find positive solutions and respects the opinions of others.”
Barousse, the nominating committee said, “has a genuine love and concern for all her students. She strives daily to have a positive learning environment that helps her students feel safe and happy.”
“Mrs. Barousse deserves to be Teacher of the Year because she helps us if we get stuck on a word when we are reading,” reported student Graesyn Greer.
“I love her and she loves me. She helps me learn new things,” said student Dawson Pigg.
Barousse also is seen as a great asset to her fellow teachers.
She “willingly shares ideas, activities and materials that seek to enhance student learning,” her nomination letter said.
“Mrs. Barousse is wonderful with her students. Her students love her from the first time they meet her,” said kindergarten teacher Susie Rahlmann. “I have observed many of her past students interact with her and you can tell that she instilled a relationship with each of them.”
Mrs. Barousse is “a gifted educator … always interested in the well-being of each of her students,” parent Amanda Bullington said.
“Mrs. Barousse taught my son last year in kindergarten. At the beginning of the year, he could read some words,” Bullington added. “By October, Mrs. Barousse had taught Braden to fluently read many books.”
Barousse has been married to Mark Barousse for 35 years, and the couple has five children — Matthew, Kathryn, Austin, Brett and Luke. She also remains active at Sacred Heart Church, where she has led confirmation classes.
Editor’s note: This is part of a continuing series recognizing area Teachers of the Year from Butler County districts.