Scotland Leaves Legacy of Kindness As She Retires

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - Longtime teachers leave a mark on a school district and community, and all will surely agree that Ann. M. Scotland will always be remembered for spreading kindness near and far.

After 36 years of teaching in the Mt. Olive School District, Scotland is retiring. She completed her paperwork requirements to officially retire this July 1.

“It’s time,” says Scotland, 60. “My adult children whom I adore live in Colorado and Pennsylvania. I am blessed to be a granny to my sweet granddaughter. My goal is to make special memories with them now. More chapters to share in, more of my story to be.”

Her plans are to “Fill myself with family, travel and be useful in some way. Once settled I wouldn’t mind getting some type of part time job mentoring future educators.”

A teacher for 39 years, Scotland started in September 1984, “as Miss Smith at the age of 21 in a private school called Morris Plains Country Day School in Morris Plains. I taught a full day kindergarten. I did that for two years.

“I wanted to get a job in a public school, so I stopped and subbed for Mt. Olive and Dover,” until 1986. “Then in January of 87’, I found my dream spot in Mt. Olive.”

She started out at Mountain View Elementary School teaching fourth grade until 1990.

From 1991-2001, she jumped over to Sandshore to teach first and second grade; and then in the fall of 2001 she relocated Chester M. Stephens to teach first and second grades.

“I have been at CMS since it opened as an elementary school in 2001,” says Scotland, who currently teaches second grade.

Teaching was her childhood dream.

“Since I was a little girl, teaching has been my passion,” says Scotland. “I did struggle as a student. I wanted to reach all children but especially ones that had low self-esteem due to challenges that learning can present. It has always been my intent to help boys and girls reach their fullest potential academically and to underscore no matter where they are with their learning, there is a place to contribute and have purpose. There is a place for everyone.”

After graduating Whippany Park High School in 1980,

Scotland attended County College of Morris in Randolph for her associate’s degree in humanities and social science in 1982 and then went on to Glassboro State Teacher’s College, now Rowan, for her bachelor’s in elementary education in 1984.

While working, Scotland went back to school at night