Associate Spotlights of the Week

Senior Associate: Marianna Neely

Where do you come from?

I am from South Carolina. I went to Furman University as an undergraduate and graduate student. I got my undergraduate degree in elementary education and my graduate degree in literacy.

While I was working on my masters, I taught second and third grade, both in Title I schools. Both of the schools that I taught in were in my hometown of Spartanburg. I never realized that there was poverty like I saw while teaching in my town even though I grew up there.

After teaching in Spartanburg, I went to Germany as a Fullbright teaching assistant. Over in Germany, I taught grades 5-12 English in many different settings.

Why did you choose UELIP?
After being in the classroom for three years, I wanted to see education from a different perspective.

What project are you currently working on?
Right now, I'm working on updating databases in Early Stages, and there should be more projects to come!

If you could have one object symbolize you, what would it be?
A book- I have my masters in literacy! I love teaching reading, and I always thought I would teach.

If you could be any fruit or vegetable, what would you be?
I would be a watermelon- it's one of my favorite fruits and it reminds me of playing "Fruitbasket Turnover". I played Fruitbasket Turnover in elementary school on the swing sets- it's a game like musical chairs.

What was your favorite subject in grade school?
My favorite subject was reading!

Name one interesting fact about yourself.
I come from a big family, I have four brothers and one sister. I'm number 5 of 6 and would always wear 5 on my jerseys.

Junior Associate: Teake

Where do you come from?
Repping hard for New Haven--where I grew up! I attend school outside Boston, but I'm living in DC now and loving it. Hopefully, I'll live in New York or the sun-soaked west coast in the future. I can’t wait!

Why did you choose UELIP?
I had never been to DC before, but it looked like the place to be as far as avant-garde education reform. Also, Michelle Rhee is definitely role model material.

What project are you currently working on?
I'm working on about five right now, but my highest priority is making sure that summer school is properly staffed. I’ve been making lots of calls to summer school coordinators with my friends in HR!

Name one interesting fact about yourself.
Can I use the “one name” line again? :)

If you could be any fruit or vegetable what would you be?
Is coconut a fruit? If so, let’s do that.

What was your favorite subject in grade school?
I love everything school-related; that’s why I’m here! No discrimination.

If you could have one object symbolize you what would it be?
A tree swaying in the wind, always growing, sometimes twisted, sent to the factory and processed, turned into a chunk of wood, possibly teak. Lol, peace!