For more than seven years, the generosity of StFX alumna Mary McConnell ’62 has helped shape the next generation of educators while inspiring a love of reading among children across Nova Scotia.
Ms. McConnell, a former teacher herself, has strengthened an important resource for pre-service teachers at StFX through her annual monetary gift to the children's literature section in the Curriculum Resource Centre (CRC), which supports B.Ed. students, M.Ed. students, PhD students, and in-service teachers by providing educational resources in a diverse range of grade levels and subject areas.
To recognize her lasting impact, the Faculty of Education recently dedicated the Mary Elizabeth McConnell Reading Corner in her honour.
“Her donation is quite special,” says CRC curriculum support advisor Allana Beaton, who notes it always comes with a handwritten note. “Not only does it help pre-service teachers, it kind of reaches the minds and hearts of kids all across the province.”
The student teachers use the books for B.Ed. class assignments and also take the material with them into classroom field placements.
“I so believe in the education process from the time children are young enough to listen to stories and appreciate them,” says Ms. McConnell, who spent her career teaching mostly Grade 5 and Grade 6 students.
As a teacher she remembers reading aloud to her classes, and she says if she skipped the story on any given day, invariably a student would ask for it.
While Ms. McConnell had supported StFX through its general fund, the connection with the Faculty of Education began about seven years ago when she visited the centre, located on the top floor of Xavier Hall.
Ms. Beaton says her annual gift means a lot. It goes a long way in buying children’s books and has really helped to replenish the children’s section with a diverse range of resources.
Originally from Antigonish, Ms. McConnell met her husband, a Massachusetts native, while they were students at StFX.
"Her daughters said they all grew up wearing StFX hoodies, her X-Ring is her most treasured possession, and she even had a license plate that read 'STFX62,'" says Ms. Beaton.
Ms. McConnell returns to Antigonish most summers, and while she was home this year for a family reunion, the Faculty of Education took the opportunity to recognize her remarkable support.
"I still have goosebumps," she says of the dedication ceremony. Although she's usually comfortable speaking in public, seeing members of her family gathered in the room brought tears to her eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she remembers thinking.
“I’m very proud of what I’ve done. It gives me great pleasure that the department is able to buy books to teach.”
Ms. Beaton says it was a fitting tribute.
“She’s so passionate about reading. StFX holds a special place in her heart.”
