Making a Difference through the Decades: Teachers Meryl Stanislaus and Marisol Mely

Thank you to teachers Marisol Mely and Meryl Stanislaus for their contributions!

When Meryl Stanislaus and Marisol Mely first began their careers at Kennedy Children’s Center, our program was still overseen by the Nuns of the Daughters of Charity at our former location on the Upper East Side, and special education services had only recently been guaranteed for public school children.

Forty years later, school looks a bit different; but, whether it is in-person or behind a screen, both Ms. Meryl and Ms. Marisol are still doing what they do best: using their care and compassion to support and connect with young children with disabilities and their families.

When asked why she has stayed with the program for so long, Ms. Meryl replied, “The opportunity to work with great people makes a huge difference. I have been lucky to always have great teacher assistants. It makes all the difference and makes it fun and you get to enjoy spending time with the kids and teaching them foundational skills.”

From our founding in 1958 as one of the first special education schools in the nation, to the remote and hybrid learning models created in response to the pandemic, KCC has always recognized the vital importance of providing high-quality special education instruction and therapeutic services to young children. 

“When we first went into remote learning it was a shock to the system,” said Ms. Meryl, recalling the start of the pandemic in March of 2020. “It was an adjustment for sure. But by September we were familiar with everything; the groundwork was there, and we were better prepared with School-In-A-Bag.

“We mix things up; if something doesn’t work on screen, we try something else — we live to work another day. We take it day by day, and always try to make it fun and involve and engage the parents. The parents are really invested in their children’s education, and we try to make it fun for them too.” 

“I use animation in all my lessons and activities,” says Ms. Marisol. “Our children love this. I see later on that they imitate that animation as well; the silly faces they make, the silly dancing to different types of music, and the amazing silly sounds and words they sing. That is the best part; to see that you have gained that trust from the child. They are happy, the parents are happy and I am happy. ... This is what has inspired me to stay at KCC so long.”

Ms. Meryl and Ms. Marisol share the title of KCC’s most veteran staff members with their colleague, teacher assistant Julie Pilgrim. These amazing women remind us that the transition to remote learning is just the most recent adaptation in more than 60 years of responsive service to communities who need us.

Their advice for future educators who will change students’ and families’ lives?

“Remember to have fun,” Ms. Marisol advises. “Go and find that child within yourself. Pretend that you are a child again and share the fun times with your students; your children.”

“You have to like kids, and prepare them to leave you with a good foundation for the next chapter in their lives,” says Ms. Meryl. “Working with kids with special needs, you will always have kids who will challenge you mentally and physically; that’s what special education is. It’s not easy. You’re not going to have sunshine days every day, but you can always find one thing that you like -- find those moments of, ‘Oh wow, look what he did!’

“Never underestimate a child because they will surprise you; what they do not know today, give them a few weeks and they pick it up, when they come back to visit ten years later you think, ‘Look at this child and the leap they made.’”