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Molly Mosher: A Very Special Teacher Filling A Vital Role
Molly Mosher: A Very Special Teacher Filling A Vital Role
By Vicky Moon
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Molly Mosher is a lifelong horse girl.
She grew up in Florida and New York City and has lived in Connecticut. She also readily admits “I have too many horses and dogs but rescuing is a good thing.”
“My mother once told a friend that ‘all Molly wants to do is ride her pony.’ The reply was: ‘Send her to Foxcroft.’”
Molly Mosher, a special needs teacher of autistic children, with a new friend, River Keen.
Photo by Doug Gehlsen of Middleburg Photo
Mosher and her mother moved to Middleburg in 1973 in order to join the first class of day students at the all-girls boarding school. In her freshman year, she took a child development class and was hooked.
“From then on I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” recalled Mosher, a special needs teacher of autistic children at Trailside Middle School in Ashburn. “Senior year, my project was working as a child life worker at Children’s Hospital in D.C. I was the youngest child life worker to ever work in the Burn Unit. What a gut wrenching, but rewarding experience this was.”
She began her first year at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, her mother’s alma mater, where her horse was a welcome part of her luggage. She was happy to study early childhood education but by year two, she transferred to American University in Washington and majored in elementary and special education.
“That was where my journey through the education world took hold,” she said. “My junior year I was chosen by my professor to set up the first public school mainstream classroom in the United States, combining art and science with special needs students. I flew to Santa Barbara and spent six months teaching in the Santa Barbara school systems. I also worked with Dr. Sally Smith, founder of the Lab School in Washington. With so many wonderful experiences, I was sure I would spend my life as a special education teacher.”
Fast forward to the last day of school for her third year teaching in Loudoun County.
“My principal comes into my classroom and states he wants me to take over the autism program in this school,” she said. “Being female, I cried and stated I preferred to keep on doing what I was doing. He asked me to think about it. I had begun taking classes on autism and was a bit intrigued.
“That afternoon, as I drove out of the parking lot with a box of classroom items in the back of my truck, the top of a box flew off. As I went to replace the box top, I noticed the title of the top book, “Making Peace with Autism.” I am not a ‘sign person,’ but this was pretty clear. I took the job.”
Mosher has spent twenty-plus years teaching in Loudoun County.
“I’ve added many graduate hours, including my certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. I opened the autism program at Trailside Middle School nine years ago. I immediately bonded with my principal as we discussed our love and personal anecdotes with special needs children. There were even some tears shed as we shared stories.
“Throughout the years I’ve worked summers with elementary school students, but middle school is my love. For three years I’ve had the same students, all day. I teach all the core classes including history and science, but add in social skills and functional life skills. Teacher down time isn’t really a concept in my teaching world. It’s the hardest job I have ever had but the most rewarding ever. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Bonding with families and students is part of her concept.
“My classroom assistants are wonderful and our classroom wouldn’t run without them,” she said. “I’ve had biters, chair-throwers, hitters, non-verbal, verbal, but all absolutely wonderful children, no matter their level of disability. Their behavior is their form of communication.”
Mosher commutes an hour and twenty minutes to school from a small farm in Rixeyville, where she has horses. “I ‘d love to teach closer to home, but the reality is my pay cut would be about $30,000 a year.”
Developing a relationship with the parents is what Mosher considers special.
“It’s so rewarding to see these young adults grow and change across those three years with the right amount of support, boundaries, and love,” she said. “I believe in them and they trust me. I still have students come to visit me from years before. A bond is a hard thing to break.”
Mosher considers Trailside Middle School an inclusive community that supports kindness and compassion, from the principal on down.
“Because of this,” she added, “my students and the program are supported emotionally and rarely do I come up with an idea that doesn’t get the go-ahead.”
Working with the children is the highlight of Mosher’s day.
“Watching them grow and change for three years is so rewarding,” she said. “Changing behaviors, large and small, is so rewarding.”
Data collection and paperwork also is part of the job.
“But, really the greatest challenge is sending the 8th graders off to start their high school career,” Mosher said. “Many past students keep in touch and some parents and students come visit or call me regularly. I try to be brave on their last day and put a positive spin on it, so stiff upper lip and a big smile and hug as they get on the bus.”
As for her parting thoughts, Mosher said: “No matter your barriers, keep trying. All of us struggle in one way or another. Working with these wonderful people makes me realize one step in front of the other will start your path in the right direction. And success will follow.”
