On Oct. 9, Rocky River Elementary's school psychologist, Mara Healy, thought she was walking into a routine staff meeting. Little did she know that she was about to receive the 2024-2025 Exceptional Children (EC) Educator of Excellence Award, a notable recognition for her remarkable contributions to the district’s EC program. Surrounded by colleagues, Principal Cathy Haney, the district’s EC Assistant Director Sarah Staley, board members, her husband and Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan, Healy was caught off guard by the honor.

"I'm a little overwhelmed, but, of course, happy to receive this award," said Healy. "Yesterday, I suspected something was happening. I had not imagined it would be this."

Healy’s path to becoming a school psychologist wasn’t straightforward. Initially pursuing a career as a clinical psychologist, Healy found the path too stressful and decided to take a break from graduate school. After spending time in another profession, including contemplating a career in interior design, she sought advice from one of her former professors. The conversation changed her life.

“He asked me, ‘What do you like about interior design?’ I told him I liked organizing spaces, figuring out how to use them or identifying their deficits,” Healy recalled. Her professor responded, “What if I told you, you could do that with somebody’s mind?” With that insight, Healy switched her focus to psychological assessments and never looked back. “He told me I was meant to be a school psychologist,” Healy said.

Now, with over 10 years of experience, Healy has worked in various educational settings across Massachusetts, South Carolina and North Carolina. Her diverse background includes working in psychiatric halfway houses and hospitals, counseling court-referred adolescents, and coordinating EC preschool programs. This extensive experience has shaped her compassionate, student-centered approach to her work at Rocky River Elementary.

Laura Beachum, the district's EC director, praised Healy’s work in her nomination letter, highlighting her unique ability to make students and families feel at ease.

“What stands out the most about Ms. Healy is how she makes the students and families feel comfortable. She accomplishes this by getting to know the students before evaluations and presenting her results in a way that is easy for everyone to understand,” Beachum wrote.

One recent example involved a student diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, who also struggled with anxiety. Healy took extra time to build trust with the student before starting her evaluation, ultimately providing crucial insights to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.

Healy’s dedication to her students is evident not just in her evaluations but in her ongoing support. As a licensed cognitive behavioral therapist, she frequently provides counseling as part of her students’ IEPs, helping them navigate challenges beyond academics. Beachum notes that Healy’s problem-solving skills and collaboration with the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) team are integral to successful interventions and student outcomes at Rocky River.

Despite her impressive academic credentials, including her undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon College and graduate work at Tufts University, Healy’s success lies in her ability to connect with people.

“Her training and expertise are amazing, but the way she is with people is what makes her stand out as an excellent advocate and educator,” Beachum wrote.

Healy’s dedication to creating positive student outcomes exemplifies the spirit of the EC Educator of Excellence Award. As she continues to support her students with care and expertise, her favorite quote by Abraham Lincoln captures her outlook: “You can complain because a rose has thorns, or you can rejoice because the thorns have a rose.” For Healy, the thorns of challenge in her work only make the successes sweeter.

Healy will be among the recipients from across the state who will be honored in November by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction during the Annual Conference on Exceptional Children.

10/10/2024