What I do: I’ve been with Miriam School for 25 years, first as associate director for Family Services. Since 2000, I’ve been head of school.
Why it’s important: Each year, Miriam as a whole works with more than 600 children with learning disabilities, and the school works with 96 students. The small size enables us to create an individualized and nurturing learning community. The specialization we have in our building is hard to find anywhere else in the city— we have special education teachers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, all working for those kids.
What gets me up in the morning: I love being part of a community of parents and educators who are incredibly dedicated to the kids we serve. The organization tries to meet needs that are not being met in a way that is educated and smart.
Finding my place: When I first interviewed for a job at Miriam 25 years ago, the faculty’s and board’s commitment and dedication to serving the kids was so evident. I thought, I want to be part of that group.
What I’ve learned: The importance of trying to understand other people’s perspectives rather than quickly formulating an opinion. This applies to both children and adults—why are they doing what they’re doing and what are they thinking about that’s eliciting the behavior?
Best advice I’ve gotten: Find something you love doing and work hard at it.
Education: I graduated from U. City High School, and I have undergraduate and graduate degrees in counseling and teaching from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Greatest hero: My grandmother, who was widowed at the age of 50. She had a teaching degree she had never used and had to go into the workforce for the first time. I don’t recall her complaining—she just got up and did it.
Childhood ambition: Because of my grandmother, I think I always had helping kids and adolescents in mind. That’s always been part of my plan.
Family matters: My husband, Dan McCluskey, is in real estate, and my son is a manufacturing engineer for AMS Controls, which is a small family-owned business. My stepdaughter is in finance in Atlanta, and my stepson is in sales in the Northeast.
Favorite St. Louis activity: I’m a big Cardinals fan, and I love Forest Park.
Least favorite thing about St. Louis: People sometimes can be defined by things in their background, like what high school they went to, which is a little provincial.
Favorite vacation escape: Hawaii
Last read: Live Right and Find Happiness, by Dave Barry, and Wait Till Next Year, by Doris Kearns.
How I unwind at the end of the day: Shopping and being at home.
Photo: Bill Barrett