Marsha Gille is a volunteer worker who has been teaching with the Osseo school district for around 40 years. She is a former social studies teacher that retired from Northview Junior High, but decided that her job was not complete. Mrs. Gille still loved teaching when she retired, so she found it a natural fit to volunteer at PC's "The Other-Side" program.
"The Other-Side" is a program within Park Center that helps to ensure that students graduate through hands-on and group learning. There are currently three teachers and thirty-three students in the program allowing students to receive extra help and encouragement. The program covers Social Studies, English, and Science. In addition to these subjects, field trips are made to museums, plays, the sculpture garden, and the state capital building. Students can choose to be enrolled for as little as one trimester, or up to their full three years at PC. For more on The Other Side program, read this description
Mrs. Gille originally planned on volunteering in the Minneapolis School District, but when she heard that Ms. Sally Deke, the originator of The Other-Side was retiring, she chose to come to Park Center instead. She does not regret it either. "I love Park Center, it has great diversity and is just a really cool school," said Mrs. Gille. Working with students and helping them succeed is her favorite part of the job, and she says she will continue teaching as long as she feels good and has great students to teach.
Mrs. Gille is truly a selfless individual for spending her time helping the school district and its students without being paid. In fact, Mrs. Gille and her husband, Roger Raina, even pay for field trips and other expenses for The Other Side. It is for these reasons that we would like to thank Mrs. Gille for being an excellent teacher and all around great person.
-Brad Erickson