“I always think, looking back, would someone who knew me in middle or high school think that I would be working as a teacher? They’d probably say ‘No way.’ But I think it makes complete sense that I’m a teacher because I kind of see things through the lens of our students, particularly those who have challenges.” said Elyse Wilson, the new FSS Learning Specialist.
Elyse Wilson grew up in Haddon Township, New Jersey. As a kid, Elyse claims, she wasn’t very “good at school”, struggling with the core academics. However, the arts are where she really shined. She originally got her undergraduate degree at UArts before it closed, studying Film and Television; Elyse took time working in Philadelphia after graduating before moving to New York and working there for a bit.
One of the major projects she worked on at that time was Trading Spaces, a 10 season reality TV show. Her job for the show was casting and development, “finding people that would be good for on-air talent” and pitching new ideas for other shows. She found success when one of her shows, Kitchen Cousins, was picked up and went on for 2 full seasons; she refers to that experience as her “claim to fame.”
After a few years, Elyse decided that she “really wanted to do something more meaningful with [her] life,” which motivated her to apply for a teaching fellowship. During this fellowship, she had to commit to teaching for 2 years in a high-need area of New York, where she would teach students with disabilities. At the same time, Elyse was getting her graduate degree in Special Education at Long Island University. This gave her the opportunity to work with various different schools in New York, including Mary McDowell Friends School, another K-12 Quaker School, specifically for neurodivergent students and students with learning disabilities.
When COVID hit, Elyse and her husband moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she spent 3 years working at Hawken School. In this period, the pair had a daughter named Natalie. Elyse missed her family and decided to move back to be closer to them, and today, Elyse is raising her daughter in her hometown, allowing her to spend time with her family and show her daughter the places where she grew up.
Now at Friends Select, Elyse works in a variety of different roles under the title of “Learning Specialist.” At FSS there is a “Support Services Team”, a group of teachers who keep an eye out for students who may be experiencing difficulties and form plans to help them. Elyse works to help students plan out assignments and re-teaches difficult subjects by asking students to explain the topic to her.
It is important for Elyse to work simultaneously with the other faculty members. “The other aspect of my job is to help support faculty, so working with faculty through workshops or in department meetings, to help faculty identify ways that they can strengthen their curriculum both for students that have different learning needs as well as for those students that whose learning needs kind of go beyond and actually require some extension work,” said Elyse.
With her office in the STEAM building, Elyse expressed slight difficulty forming bonds with the main “hub” of the student body. However, she loves the environment that the STEAM building brings. She said, “I also think what we have here in STEAM is really unique. We’re all like close friends and it feels like a little family over here.”
Elyse has formed very close friendships with other members of the faculty, even being a part of the faculty “New Parent Group,” where faculty members who have somewhat recently had children get together for lunch and talk about their experience of parenthood. Elyse also spoke about how close she lives to Michele Prokapus, Middle and Upper School Learning Specialist, commenting that they often ride home together.
Additionally, she mentioned how “blown away” she is by the sheer talent of the FSS students, specifically noting the musical performances during assemblies, the recent musical, and any example where students take ownership and leadership. “It’s like these pockets that we have at Friends Select where students really get to shine and take the leadership,” said Elyse. “I’m really looking forward to Social Justice Week and [seeing] what students plan for that. So that’s going to be a highlight for me. I also had a blast on the DC trip…chaperoning with the 10th grade…it was just a great experience.”
Since she has a two-year-old daughter, Elyse’s role as a mother takes up a lot of her free time outside of school. However, Elyse has many hobbies beyond motherhood. She loves “being outside [in] nature, walking, biking, exploring the city by foot, and traveling.” Moreover, she describes herself as a “big Yogi”. Around 10 years ago, she was certified as a yoga teacher, and she found that it gives her not only physical but also mental benefits. She is also still very ardent about doing various forms of arts or crafts, such as painting, drawing, knitting, crocheting, or sewing.
Elyse Wilson is both a resource and a supportive figure for students. “I’m here and I’m open and willing to work with anyone and everyone…I’m not a scary person,” said Elyse. “I’m also very low-stakes because I will never grade you. So that’s a good place to start.”
Elyse can be contacted with any questions or academic concerns at [email protected].
