Cason joins Rock Hills Teaching staff

Rock Hills third grade teacher, Meghan Cason, was born in Virginia. Her father was in the military, so she grew up moving a lot. She has lived in eight different states. The state she lived in the longest was Arizona.

Cason went to a private Catholic school called Lexington Catholic in Lexington, Ky., for high school. "For college, I graduated from Kenyon, a small, liberal arts school no one outside of Ohio has heard of," Cason said. She was recruited to play volleyball there. Cason graduated 18 months ago.

Cason moved to Jewell County two months ago to teach Jump Start over the summer. "It's been wonderful getting to know everyone here," she said. Because she moved around a lot when she was growing up, Cason never truly felt she fit into a community. She wanted to feel settled in her life, close to her parents for the first time in many years, and to feel like she could ingratiate and contribute to a community in a lasting way are reasons she chose Jewell County as her home.

"After 18 years of living with my parents, and another four with roommates, I am happy to be living by myself. So no, I am not married and quite content with my life as it is right now!" Cason exclaimed. She has two fur babies named Gus and JoJo. Cason said most people have probably seen her walking them around her yard.

Cason is an avid reader. "I probably read about three books a week," Cason said. "It's my favorite way to unwind." She also enjoys baking with a repertoire consisting of cakes, pies, cheesecakes and cookies. "Finally, I enjoy going antiquing," Cason said. It is a great way to spend time with friends and family all while finding great pieces of furniture to fill your house. "My entire living room consists of treasures from antique stores," Cason said.

When asked what her favorite part of living in Jewell County was, Cason replied, "I love walking everywhere (when the weather permits). It's an easy way to exercise, and I love walking two blocks to the grocery store, or five to work. It's very nice, and helps me save a lot of money on gasoline."

This year is Cason's first year of teaching. "I spent the last year substitute teaching, and now that I'm a full time teacher with my own classroom and my own group of students, it has been a dream come true," Cason said. Before teaching, Cason was a substitute teacher in four other districts, so she kept busy. She graduated in May of 2021. She started substitute teaching. "I fell in love with working with the students, building important relationship, and allowing for future generations of this community to be as kind, successful, and confident as possible!" Cason said.

This year, Cason is most looking forward to learning all about the Rock Hills district. "There are so many things I feel completely ignorant of that are important to a rural community like this one, and I learn something new everyday, mostly from my students," Cason said. "I feel as though I am learning more than I am actually teaching." Cason teaches third grade and is also a KSHSAA certified official. This certification has allowed her to be a referee for the junior high and high school volleyball games.

There are a couple of people who inspired Cason to become a teacher. The first one would be her mother, who was a dual certified math and special education teacher for 18 years. She is now an instructor at Fort Hays State University. "I like to say that she is 'teaching teachers how to teach,'" Cason said.

Another person who inspired her was her fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Ellen Samuelsen. She inspired Cason to always be herself and to appreciate the unique differences that make everyone who they are. "It allowed me to embrace exactly the type of person I was growing into," Cason said. "Despite all the struggles people go through in life, I was able to hold onto my vision for myself, and my inner confidence."

Cason's advice to aspiring teachers is that "teaching is not a job or profession, but a calling and a commitment. When you are working with students every day, you are developing relationships with people who you will think about nonstop. The concern for the betterment of your students will live in your head rent free. So if you are looking for a job, don't get into teaching. But, if you are wanting a vocation, something that forces you to impact the lives of everyone you work with on a daily basis, there is no better field than education."

The lessons Cason learned from Mrs. Samuelsen is reinforced by Cason's favorite quote. She wants this quote to be the one thing they take away when they leave third grade. The quote, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."