It’s been 30 years since Amy Spencer ’94 graduated from St. Mary’s, but she clearly remembers the words of late teacher Madame Nannette Quinn.
“Your success depends 80 percent on organization and 20 percent on what you do with it,” Amy remembers Quinn saying. “If you can keep yourself in order and organized, everything else will come. Nobody is perfect, and we all learn in our own way.”
The reminder that each student learns differently inspires Amy as she leads Concord Academy in Memphis as principal. Concord Academy serves students with learning disabilities like attention deficit disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, depression, intellectual disabilities, or other neurodiverse needs.
“Everyone can learn,” Amy said. “Our students face some pretty large learning obstacles, but there’s always a way to reach them. We will find a way. Students come to Concord after they’ve tried everything else. I want to tell my kids that it is possible to be successful.”
Concord’s mission, “Learn Differently,” calls for teachers to use unique strategies and non-traditional methods, but they don’t mind the extra effort to help students succeed in school and life.
“Concord is a very supportive environment for teachers and for students. We all look out for each other. The number one reason anyone is here is for our students. Everyone has that intent and connection,” she said. “We are small, and we are small for a reason, so we can reach our kids and meet their individual needs.”
St. Mary’s teachers leave lasting impacts on students that follow them into their careers. Amy hopes to inspire her students in the same way Madame Quinn inspired her.
“Education is the most fulfilling field I’ve ever been in,” she said. “I really care about these kids. I want them to be confident and successful and know that they have a purpose – we all do.”
- Alumnae