by Jen Myers

(Each month, Wellpoint, InsideLowell and Lowell Public Schools honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in their students’ lives. Wellpoint awards each honoree a $250 gift card to be used for school supplies)

Twenty-one years ago, Patricia “Tish” Kelsey began her teaching career as a long-term substitute at the Greenhalge Elementary School. That summer, she applied for a full-time role as a second-grade teacher at the McAuliffe Elementary  School and by the time she got home from the interview there was a message on her answering machine offering her the job. 

She has never left – until now. Ms. Kelsey plans to retire at the end of this school year, taking with her two decades of memories, victories, and challenges, and leaving some sage advice for those who follow in her footsteps. 

“One piece of advice I would give new teachers is to focus first on building relationships with your students and establishing routines before worrying about teaching the curriculum,” she said. “Students learn best when they feel respected, safe, and understood.”

Kelsey said being a good teacher means being a good learner – ask questions and lean on more experienced colleagues. 

“Teaching is collaborative, and no one masters it in the first year or ever,” she said, adding it is important to give yourself some grace and realize the job is demanding and growth comes with experience. “After 21 years I am still learning. Celebrate small successes, reflect often, and remember that consistency and caring matter more than perfection.”

Kelsey was born in Somerville, moved to Billerica in second-grade and then to Andover her junior year of high school, which she said was a very difficult transition. 

“I think that experience helped me become more empathetic toward students who are adjusting to change, feeling out of place, or struggling to find where they belong,” she said. “As a teacher, I’ve always tried to make sure students feel welcomed, seen, and connected in my classroom.”

Although she was drawn toward teaching from a young age, as evidenced by the recent discovery of her baby book where her mom had noted that Tish, age 6, was upset that her sister did not want to play school with her – again – she did not pursue the profession until her own children were in school and she began spending time in their classrooms. 

“That experience confirmed for me what I had always felt deep down — that I truly belong in a classroom,” she said. “I realized I would flourish as a teacher, and I decided to pursue the path that had been there all along.”

Kelsey taught second-grade at the McAuliffe for 15 years.

“I became very curious about what happened to my students once they moved on to third grade,” she said. “I also have a strong passion for teaching writing, and in second grade I would often see students just beginning to develop the ability to write a solid, competent paragraph by the end of the year. I found myself wanting to see how that writing would continue to grow.”

In 2020, when a third-grade position opened up she went for it and was able to move to third-grade with her students during the pandemic, a time when they, and she, needed stability more than ever. 

“What I love most about third grade is that students are becoming much more independent and confident, but they still have that natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning,” she said, adding it is a challenge to keep up with the pace of the curriculum and the demands of state testing. “We work hard to ensure that all required standards are taught and reinforced by spring so students are prepared for the MCAS. Balancing that timeline while still keeping learning engaging and meaningful requires careful planning and flexibility, but it’s also what makes the work so purposeful.”

Part of that planning includes establishing an inclusive, supportive classroom culture. 

“Many of my students come from diverse cultural backgrounds and speak a variety of languages, so it’s very important to me that every child feels respected, welcomed, and valued for who they are,” Kelsey said. “I want students to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and taking academic risks, so I make it very clear that mistakes are not something to be embarrassed about — they’re an important part of learning. In fact, some of the best learning moments happen when we work through mistakes together as a class.”

The classroom culture she has created has not gone unnoticed. 

“Tish has a remarkable ability to use humor to connect with her students, creating a classroom environment where learners feel both comfortable and motivated,” said McAuliffe Assistant Principal Patti Corrente. “Her positivity shines through in everything she does, and it is clear that she holds a deep belief in the capabilities of every child she teaches. In her classroom, learning is not only fun but also rigorous, as students are consistently challenged to grow and succeed.” 

Kelsey knows her job is about more than just making sure students are prepared to take a test. 

“Ultimately, my goal is for every student to leave my classroom having made meaningful growth — academically, socially, and emotionally — and feeling more confident in themselves as learners and people,” she said. 

When she finds a subject that truly engages her students, she rides with this. This year, they read an article in Time for Kids about a 12-year-old boy in Wisconsin who volunteered at a local animal shelter and became known as a ‘service superstar.’

“The story really resonated with my students,” Kelsey said. “They started asking questions about how animal shelters operate and what kinds of help shelters need. I followed their interest and reached out to the Lowell Humane Society to ask how our class could support them. They shared a list of needed supplies, and now our students are organizing a pet supply drive.”

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the class was deep into writing persuasive essays on why people should adopt a pet from a shelter rather than purchase one from a breeder or pet store. 

“Experiences like that are the lessons students remember most because they feel authentic and meaningful,” she said. “The students became deeply invested because the learning grew from their own curiosity and compassion, and they could see that their actions could make a real difference in the community.”  

Kelsey has big plans for the next chapter of her life, including selling her Chelmsford home and moving to Maine to be closer to her children and grandchildren; as well as taking a European river cruise in the fall with her husband and some friends. 

Although she is looking forward to some well-deserved time off, she is not ruling out making her way back to a classroom in the future as a tutor or paraprofessional. 

“Education and working with children have been such a meaningful part of my life that I think I’ll always want to stay connected to it in some way,” Kelsey said. 

All About Ms. Kelsey: 

Hobbies: Outside of school, I enjoy staying active and spending time with family and friends. I play pickleball, enjoy dancing, and love getting together for cards and board games. My husband, Jim, and I also enjoy attending outdoor concerts, taking long walks on the beach, and going on tandem bike rides together. We also enjoy going to comedy shows and trying to make time for fun and laughter whenever we can.

Dream Vacation: A European River Cruise is my dream vacation.

Favorite song to sing in the car: An oldie, but a goodie to sing in the car is Donna Summer’s MacArthur’s Park.  It has strange lyrics, but it is so fun to belt it out!   Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats is another great one to sing in the car.  Finally, my current favorite is Golden by HUNTR/X.

Favorite meal:  Longhorn Steak House’s filet cooked medium with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts!

Favorite snack: My favorite snacks are peanut butter pie or any lemon flavored baked good.

Favorite Movie: My favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption.

Favorite Book: Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, the first in a series of books by Nikki Grimes.

Favorite TV Show:  Survivor.

Favorite Fictional Character: My favorite fictional character is from a children’s book series written by Nikki Grimes..  The character’s name is Dyamonde Daniel. I love her sass!  Plus my students have always been able to relate to her.