Playing school during her childhood, Malorie Wyman convinced her younger siblings to be the students while she was their teacher.
As an elementary student herself, she couldn’t wait until her turn came around to spend lunch time with her teacher.
“Teaching was my dream. I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a teacher.”
Wyman ultimately realized her goal. This fall, she will be teaching second grade at Cleveland school.
Wyman was raised in Lake Crystal.
“I loved growing up in a close-knit, small-town community.”
After graduating from Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial High School, she attended Winona State University for her first year of college before transferring to Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education.
On top of her degree, she also earned an Elementary STEM certificate. STEM is one of her favorite two subjects to teach.
“STEM has always been such a fun and engaging way to learn. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning that gets students excited about discovering new things. I'm excited to incorporate hands-on STEM experiences into my classroom this year.”
Before coming to Cleveland, she taught third grade in Faribault. She enjoyed her time there, but since she lives in St. Peter, she wanted to find a school closer to home where she could become part of a strong community.
Cleveland was the perfect fit.
“I chose Cleveland because of its close-knit school and community. I value building strong relationships with students and their families, and I know Cleveland provides that opportunity. I also love that students attend school here from Pre-K through 12th grade. It's such a unique and special environment where you get to watch students grow throughout their entire school journey.”
She likes the excitement and curiosity that elementary students bring to the classroom each day.
“Second grade is such an important year because students grow so much academically, socially, and emotionally. I enjoy helping students build confidence while making learning fun and memorable.”
Reading is her other favorite subject to teach.
“I love helping students become confident readers and watching them discover stories they truly enjoy. I'm most excited to help my students grow in their reading and writing skills. My goal is to help them build confidence and develop a lifelong love of reading.”
Wyman said her fifth-grade teacher had the biggest influence on her teaching, and she would like to carry her style forward.
“She not only challenged me academically but also made sure I felt safe, valued and cared for every day. I hope to create that same feeling for each of my students, so my biggest goal is for every student to grow academically while also feeling confident, supported and excited to come to school each day. I also hope to continue growing as an educator by learning alongside my students and expanding my teaching toolbox.
She is also looking forward to building meaningful relationships with her students, getting to know their families and becoming part of the Cleveland community.
“I can't wait to create fun memories and watch my students learn and grow throughout the year. Seeing a student's smile at the end of the day—especially when they're excited to come back tomorrow—makes every challenge worth it.”
Snacks and a morning cup of coffee fuel the energy Wyman will need as a second-grade teacher. When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys watching basketball and is a big Minnesota Timberwolves fan. She even named her puppy “Rudy” after center Rudy Gobert.