Hi, my name is Mady Willcox! Formerly known as Miss Darfus, I recently got married this summer! I am enthusiastic about being your child’s teacher this school year! I can not wait to meet you and your child at the Open House! I am looking forward to learning about the goals and wishes that you have for your child.

To provide a little bit of background information, I attended Cleveland State University and obtained my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education (PreK-3) in December 2016. Later, I went back to obtain my Reading Endorsement (K-12) in May 2017. In 2017 I graduated with my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Ohio University. I love taking classes and absorbing new knowledge. Currently, I am pursuing my administrative license and will be finishing the coursework this school year!                                                         

Upon graduation, I started my teaching journey as a Second Grade Teacher at Denison Elementary in Cleveland, Ohio. Immediately, curriculum and design became a passion of mine, as it allows me to use my creativity to design meaningful activities for my students. This motivated me to pursue my Master's Degree from Ohio University in Curriculum and Instruction, and explore the framework of intentional, standard-driven, lesson design. Creativity is huge in the classroom, and I believe in providing experiences for students to access this, through research projects like Genius Hour. I am a firm believer in collaboration with peers and expressing their thinking in an environment where they feel comfortable. We will work to create that environment together! My various teaching experiences have allowed me to grow as an individual and professional, and I am looking forward to my fifth year of teaching third grade at New Albany Primary School. Go Eagles!

I LOVE teaching. There is nothing more rewarding to me than to see my students reach their full potential. My mission is to make a difference in the lives of the students that I teach, to help them develop a level of self-confidence that will aid in their future success.  My passion for education surfaced as a young child because I had a wonderful caregiver that made learning fun. She served as a great role model for me as I grew up taking care of my niece and nephews. They were so excited about learning and always exploring. That was inspiring!

In my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors and going to visit new and interesting parks and restaurants. I enjoy spending time with family, friends and of course, summer cookouts.   I also love spending time with my golden retriever, Sammie!

I am looking forward to working with you and putting all my effort into having a successful school year. See you soon!

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Albert Einstein