News

Attention to detail, traditions make Holland a favorite

Published: August 18, 2007   

By Mary Hightower
Special to Arkansas Catholic

Mary Hightower

Melanie Holland (center, back row) is surrounded by students she taught in second grade at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Marche. She has been with the school for seven years.

Mary Hightower

Melanie Holland (center, back row) is surrounded by students she taught in second grade at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Marche. She has been with the school for seven years.

MARCHE -- Although Melanie Holland has earned many admirers in seven years of teaching second grade at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, the qualities that make her a standout vary in the eyes of the beholder.

Colleagues admire the 47-year-old Conway native for her professionalism.

"Melanie just goes the extra mile," said Pattie Davis, associate superintendent for schools for the Diocese of Little Rock.

Davis worked with Holland when she was principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary. She said Holland eagerly seeks professional development opportunities, instead of seeing them as a burden.

"She does it out of love of doing the right thing in the classroom," Davis said. "She's not afraid of innovation. She listens to new things."

Current IHM principal, Sister Carolyn Zionce, RSM, said Holland provides an ideal classroom for her youngsters.

"She really is a master teacher," Sister Carolyn said. "She sets absolutely clear boundaries and challenges them to grow -- behaviorally and academically. I never worry about the children in that classroom."

Parents admire Holland for her attention to detail and ability to maintain order, while still flexing with the needs of individual students.

Kim Hiatt, whose two children, Nick and Kaitlin, were in Holland's classes in 2003-04 and 2006-07, said Holland has a gift for being able to "draw out her students' good points and make whatever difficulties they have, work in the classroom."

Like Hiatt, parent Lisa Strack has more than one reason to love Holland. She's had three children in her class: Michael was in Holland's first class in 2000-01; Matthew in 2003-04; and Amanda in the 2005-06 class. This year, Holland has a fourth Strack.

"My youngest will have her this year. I'm just thrilled," Strack said. "She is one of those teachers that you know, going in, that everything is going to be fine.

"She knows exactly when things are getting out of hand," Strack said, adding with a smile in her voice, "She knows when to turn and give 'The Snap,' or 'The Look'."

Her students have their own perspective, shaped by traditions that include pet gerbils and fish in the classroom -- not to mention the occasional gerbil funeral. There's also Coco, the cocoa-powder brown rabbit that serves as a muse for students who take the plush pet home, then write diary entries from Coco's point of view. Holland's class also includes sign language lessons, a legacy of her two years as guidance counselor at the Arkansas School for the Deaf.

Yet another tradition is inscribed on the green chalkboard: "Remember, no complaining is allowed in second grade," followed by a handwritten smiley emoticon.

Holland said the phrase popped out one day when she heard one too many sighs each time the children were asked to pull out another textbook.

"I said it and it worked!" Holland said, eyes wide showing her own surprise. "Now the phrase saves time and helps us get down to work."

Royce LoBianco, who had Holland during the 2004-05 school year, said the classroom pets made the difference. "It felt less strict and sort of helped us learn."

Nick Hiatt cited the Discovery Table -- a tabletop Smithsonian of sorts, filled with objects collected by classmates -- and Coco's diary as highlights of his time in Holland's class.

Cara Holland, now an eighth grader at IHM, had a unique student perspective.

"I really liked having my Mom," she said. However, the transition between home and classroom was a learning experience.

To avoid showing favoritism, Cara said, "She wouldn't call on me."

"I was trying not to pick her and choose the other kids," Holland said. "Then I heard this sigh. I'm not just not calling on her, I'm neglecting her! We had to make some adjustments."

A final tradition for Holland's second-graders is the assignment to write letters to the first-graders who will take their places in the coming year. Lewis Crow's 2004 letter sums up Holland's class succinctly:

"Dear First grade, In second grade Mrs. Holland has a golden heart. That means very kind. We learn subtraction, addition, multiplication and division. I'll warn you she is strict when you act up."

From Holland's point of view, teaching is its own reward.

"It's a pleasure to walk in my classroom each day," Holland said. "I delight in being able to inspire children to love life, learning, school and their families.

"Teaching in a Catholic school allows us to reflect daily how God is there for each one of us no matter what our unique situation," she said.