Ms. Volcy Is Teachers’ Choice for 2023 Sidney Millman Award
Ms. Volcy, who is known for her sense of humor, requested that we use the cartoon character “Brain” from Pinky and the Brain to represent her in this article’s photo.
By STACEY KOURBANOV, KATERYNA KUZMA, VANESSA FENG WU, and TIFFANY DONG
Ms. Marie Volcy, a social studies teacher, is the winner of the 2023 Sidney Millman Award, selected by her colleagues for demonstrating excellence in her position as an educator.
Ms. Volcy has been teaching at Midwood for 27 years, dipping her toes in the pools of freshman seminar, ESL, pre-negotiation, math, and global history. She is also the faculty advisor for the Black Heritage Alliance (BHA), and she speaks three languages: English, French, and Creole. But Ms. Volcy is perhaps most known around campus for directing Midwood’s Kwanzaa Fest.
“I was honored, but I don’t feel like I am the one,” Ms. Volcy said about the award. “I’m behind the scenes; it’s about the kids. I still don’t feel up to part yet, even after all these years, because I am still learning.”
Cheyana Soulouzue ‘25, an administrator of this year’s Kwanzaa Fest, met Ms. Volcy during last year’s Caribbean Fest. One thing that sets Ms. Volcy apart is how “relatable” she is, she said.
“She taught me to be more critical,” Soulouzue added.
Cassandra Granger, a junior who has been taught by Ms. Volcy for three years, said, “I spend so much time with her, it’s funny. She’s like my second mom.”
Members of the BHA said Ms. Volcy was their “motivation for after school activities.”
Phebe Sun ‘25 said that Ms. Volcy is one of her favorite teachers ever. “She acts so motherly to the students and I can feel that she actually cares for us,” Sun said. “She’s easy to joke around with and talk to. She’s a very soft-spoken person too, so I never feel anxious about asking her something.”
Zaria LaRosa ‘25 said, “Ms. Volcy invests in her students. While I was in her class, she made the classroom welcoming.”
Teachers within the social studies department described her as “loving,” “funny,” and “kind.”
“She really cares about the students and is very dedicated to making things happen, like Kwanzaa Fest,” said Ms. Dara Conner, an AP World History and Global teacher.
“She’s just a phenomenal person to be in the presence of,” said Ms. Kirmika Scarlett, a U.S. History teacher. “She will always come with bags of treats, and she shares with everybody.”
“It’s always an adventure to work with Ms. Volcy,” said Mr. Joseph Peters, an AP U.S. History and AP Comparative Government teacher. “I did share a classroom with her once (we were co-teachers) and she was really concerned for her students. She’s great to work with and brings this level of care that not a lot of teachers have. She does a good job on that.”
Rosemary Gamba, a global teacher and Ms. Volcy’s colleague at Midwood for 20 years, said, “Ms. Volcy is caring and dependable. She is the type of person to do anything to make sure that you succeed.”
We sat down with Ms. Volcy to talk more about her teaching experiences.
What inspired you to be a teacher?
As a kid, I always wanted to either be a teacher or a pediatrician. I wanted to work with kids, whether it was with the little or big ones. There are many teachers in my family, here in the United States and back home in Haiti. My mom and dad were school custodians, and they brought home boards and chalk when I was very young so I could play at being a teacher. My mom would be my “student.” I always enjoyed playing with the other teachers, too. When I turned 16, I finally decided that I was going to be a teacher. It was all about changing the future by going into a high school and helping the next generation.
What led you to teach history specifically?
I always loved history. I wanted to know “why.” Why are we here? What happened in the past to lead to where we are now? So history was always my gravitation.
How was your first teaching experience?
When I started here in Midwood, I was in awe when I saw the kids because of the things they had to say. Of course, it was scary at first because I had so many young people in front of me, but it was exciting too. I couldn’t tell the difference between the adults and the kids. I’m 4 feet 11, so you can imagine that the kids seemed humongous. I knew that teaching was always a two-way street — I’m teaching them and they’re teaching me. But in the beginning, it’s a scary factor knowing that you have young people’s minds in hand.
What were some difficulties you’ve faced in teaching?
Patience is a big factor; there are mistakes on both ends that will happen because, as a teacher, you don’t know everything. You always have to be willing to learn in order to be a good teacher. Understand that kids change and times change. You just have to go along with that.
What is something important you learned from teaching?
Students become a big part of your life, workwise and personally. They become a family to you. I am honored when they come back and choose for me to be a part of their lives as they get older. A big part of being a teacher is whether you guys, the students, become a success. That’s the biggest reward. As a teacher, you are part of their life, and that is the biggest honor beyond the 45 minutes in the classroom.
What is your most memorable teaching experience?
One story I remember was about a student who was part of the BHA Club but wasn’t the best of students. This was many years back. His little brother was beaten up in school and he went to take care of the situation, but officers picked him up for it and he had to spend the night in juvie. The next day, he ran to me and said, “Ms. Volcy, don’t kick me out of the play,” explaining what had happened.
This showed me that we can use school in different aspects. As teachers, we realize that school may not be a student’s thing every day, but we can use certain motivations to get you back into your academics. I also love watching kids living side by side, being American and who they are native-wise.
What advice would you give students?
You have to be ready to take a chance, not be afraid. Think outside the box. Be willing to be a risk-taker. We all live in a bubble and don’t realize that. We have to learn how to stay out of the bubble. Don’t be “what if.” Be accepting of who you are, and be proud of who you are. Try not to make excuses because people won’t make excuses for you. Lastly, be aware of what you are doing; don’t just go out there to a job and make it about money. You have to have passion for it.