Henrico's Top Teachers – Marilyn Dowell, Pocahontas Middle School, English

Organized, fun, humorous – with high expectations, alongside a sprinkle of review and sarcasm.

Those are the words Marilyn Dowell uses to describe her teaching. After almost two decades of teaching, she continues to find innovative ways to live by that philosophy.

Growing up, Dowell was surrounded by great teachers. Her biggest source of inspiration was her mother, who taught Spanish for 30 years.

“I saw what a difference she made, I also saw how late she stayed up, how hard it is,” Dowell said.

Her decision was further solidified when she entered Longwood University, where she found herself surrounded by like-minded peers who also planned on pursuing education.

Her teaching journey began at Pocahontas Middle School. She started back in 2006 as a student teacher under sixth-grade teacher Stefanie Molloy, who teaches science. But when a vacancy opened up for an English teacher, she pivoted.

“I always kind of thought English was my forte, and so I just kind of stepped in, and I've been there ever since,” she said.

Nineteen years later, she’s still proudly working at Pocahontas, with the same level of determination and passion as when she started.

Every day presents different opportunities in Dowell’s class. Depending upon the week, Dowell incorporates various activities into the learning process, from ‘Word Talk’ and other performance tasks to incorporating technology with Lexia.

“They like it, and it seems to be helping because our SOL scores were really good this year,” she said.

Throughout her career, Dowell has learned to work with students of varying abilities and strengths. She continually explores different ways to support their growth, often encouraging creativity and alternative methods of assessing progress.

“You have to meet them where they are, appeal to their interests and also meet their needs,” Dowell said.

One of her goals as a teacher is to encourage her students to read more outside the classroom. To do so, she has created challenges and fun competitions to foster more choice reading. She calls the initiative ‘Book Chains’, a process through which each student who reads a new book and shares the plot can contribute to a celebratory party for their class.

“If they can convince me that they actually read the book, then I will give them a piece of candy, and the book chain will be assembled for that class,” she said.

After almost two decades of working as an educator, Dowell continues to find joy in teaching and helping students reach their full potential. “I enjoy watching the light bulb go off. . . and pushing them to develop as people and helpful members of our society,” she said.

From embarking on engaging discussions to watching their successes, these moments push Dowell to continue her education journey.

Her efforts as an educator have not gone unnoticed, as parents and administrators celebrate her determination and care.

"She cares for every student, and keeps her confidence up even with the challenges that her administration puts on her every day,” a nominator wrote. “She constantly hears back from the students' parents of how my child has learned and grown up after having been in her class."

As she reflects on her time at Pocahontas Middle School, Dowell hopes her students carry with them more than just academic knowledge.

“Push your comfort zones, especially when it comes to reading and reading out of your typical interests,” she said. “Be yourself and trust the village that has raised you.”