Marley Horn’s love of coaching soccer was her first foray into working with children, but it was her work in a bilingual elementary classroom that sealed her fate and love for teaching.
Horn grew up in Fort Collins, playing and coaching soccer from an early age. She was coaching soccer as an undergraduate at CU Boulder when she decided to change her major to Elementary Education program with an Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education in the School of Education. Now she is one of two outstanding graduates for the program.
Horn described her student teaching placement in a bilingual first grade classroom in Denver as one of the greatest experiences in her time at CU Boulder. That experience has helped her secure a teaching position at Ellis Elementary School in Denver Public Schools next year.
“Every single one of my students has helped me to become not only a better teacher but a better person,” Horn said. “They will always hold a special place in my heart and everything that they, and my amazing Mentor Teacher, Megan Westmore, have taught me this year I will carry with me into the next chapters of my life.”
Horn exemplifies the power of advocacy for bilingual learners and communities. She is a vocal advocate for bilingual children recognizing and building on the cultural and linguistic resources that children bring to school.
“Marley is also an astutely critical educator who sees and challenges racism and systems of oppression in schools and society through her work as a teacher,” her nominators said. “She stands out for her preparedness and initiative as a beginning teacher and for her accountability to the community where she teaches
In her own words
Please tell us a bit about yourself
I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado with my parents and two younger sisters. I played soccer growing up and eventually started coaching youth teams in high school. I continued coaching soccer when I came to the University of Colorado Boulder. I started here at CU as an International Affairs major and halfway through my Sophomore year I changed my major to Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. My time with kids as a soccer coach had pushed me to pursue this change, but it was the classes and the environment in the School of Education that made me incredibly passionate about my work as an educator that focuses on antibias and antiracist work."
What is one of the lessons from your time at CU Boulder that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter?
One of the greatest experiences that I have had at my time at CU Boulder has been getting to student teach. I have had the most incredible experience this past year getting to work in an ELA-S first grade classroom in DPS. Every single one of my students has helped me to become not only a better teacher but a better person.They will always hold a special place in my heart and everything that they, and my amazing Mentor Teacher, Megan Westmore, have taught me this year I will carry with me into the next chapters of my life.”
What does graduating from CU Boulder represent for you and/or your community?
Graduating from CU Boulder for me represents the beginning of a new journey in education as an educator.”
What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?
My biggest piece of advice for incoming students is to look for what you're passionate about. Then, surround yourself with people who will support you in further growing that passion and help you grow into a better human.”
What continues to drive your passion for your work after graduation?
After graduation I will be working as a 2nd Grade teacher in Denver Public Schools. What drives my passion form my work after graduation is my incredible current students and the amazing students that I will have in the future. My passion for working with students through a Social Justice lens has only grown in my time at CU Boulder. As an educator I am a lifelong learner, and I hope to always be able to learn more about how to support, affirm and uplift every student I work with.”
