Marietta fifth grade teacher Ailey Self grew up in Burneyville and graduated from Turner
High School. She attended college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in
Durant where she earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health. And
then, a switch flipped.
Self is a teacher’s kid, and although she might’ve originally convinced herself that
teaching wasn’t for her, she eventually came to the same understanding as many other
teachers’ kids before her: you can take the teacher’s kid out of the classroom, but you
can’t take the classroom out of the teacher’s kid.
“I decided I really wanted to be a teacher!” Self commented. “And so, I went back to
school and graduated a year later with a second bachelor’s in Elementary Education.”
Self is now five years into her career in education, all spent at Marietta and all teaching
fifth grade. Her first year was spent teaching reading and the last four have been spent
teaching math and science.
“The best part of my job is my students,” she said. “They are always so full of life and
ready for each day. I enjoy watching each of them work on new tasks, and my favorite
part is when they have that ‘light bulb’ moment where everything clicks with them on the
processes of how and why.”
In Self’s classroom, goals are important. Students are asked to set weekly goals for
themselves, and Self loves watching them reach those goals.
“My kids set personal goals, and every week we take some type of test or quiz to see
what kind of progress they’re making,” explained Self. “I love it when a student comes to
me and tells me, ‘I made a 100 and my goal was only an 80!’ It’s rewarding to them and
to me.”
Like most educators, Self has frustrations – namely the emphasis placed on standards.
“I understand that we have to teach standards, but we spend so much time ensuring
that standards are taught and working to the bell that it’s easy to forget my students are
still just kids,” said Self. “So, I do try and make sure that we have a little fun from time to
time.”
Self and her husband Levisty have two children, Rhyder and Rheyden. Both boys are
involved in extra-curricular activities which keep their parents busy throughout the week.
On weekends, the Selfs enjoy spending Sunday afternoons with their extended family.
Self recently returned to college to complete her master’s degree in school
administration.
“Mrs. Self is soft-spoken, but her teaching speaks for her,” said Elementary Principal
Dana McMillin. “She fosters a calm and focused learning environment where students
succeed and perseveres with strategies to help her students find success. She brings
out the best in her students.
“Mrs. Self is a natural leader who has an incredible ability to analyze and use data
effectively, guiding her team to strategies that make a difference for students. We are
lucky to have Ailey at Marietta Public Schools.”