Nicole Petranchuk
Marcia Spiker passes
Onondaga Hill – On Monday November 8, 2010 at Saint Peter’s
Church, family and friends paid their last respects to Marcia Spiker after a long battle with cancer.
“Mrs. Spiker” as many people on the Onondaga Nation knew her, was a teacher at the Onondaga Nation School for 23 years. Marcia began working at ONS in 1979 first as a substitute, then Home Ec. teacher, before transitioning into the 6th grade classroom, 4th grade, 2nd grade, and finally retiring as the 3rd grade teacher in 2002 in a 2/3 combination classroom.
Marcia was more than a dedicated teacher; she was innovative and creative in her teaching approaches. In her tenure teaching the children of the Onondaga Nation, she understood the importance of the culture of the Onondagas and she incorporated the culture into her lessons as she and fellow teachers began developing units specially designed to meet the interests of the children of ONS.
ONS’ fourth grade teacher Nancy Powless who has worked alongside Marcia since
1979 said of her teaching, “Marcia was always ready to try something new. She had a thirst and desire to learn and she was constantly on the look-out for ways to make learning meaningful and fun for her students. We spent many nights after school sitting in her room discussing thematic units, celebrations or just to hang out with her while munching on peanuts and falling out of her crazy reclining chair (which I still sit in and still almost feel like I’m going to fall out of it :-).”
Onondaga Hill – On Monday November 8, 2010 at Saint Peter’s
Church, family and friends paid their last respects to Marcia Spiker after a long battle with cancer. “Mrs. Spiker” as many people on the Onondaga Nation knew her, was a teacher at the Onondaga Nation School for 23 years. Marcia began working at ONS in 1979 first as a substitute, then Home Ec. teacher, before transitioning into the 6th grade classroom, 4th grade, 2nd grade, and finally retiring as the 3rd grade teacher in 2002 in a 2/3 combination classroom.
Marcia was more than a dedicated teacher; she was innovative and creative in her teaching approaches. In her tenure teaching the children of the Onondaga Nation, she understood the importance of the culture of the Onondagas and she incorporated the culture into her lessons as she and fellow teachers began developing units specially designed to meet the interests of the children of ONS.
ONS’ fourth grade teacher Nancy Powless who has worked alongside Marcia since
1979 said of her teaching, “Marcia was always ready to try something new. She had a thirst and desire to learn and she was constantly on the look-out for ways to make learning meaningful and fun for her students. We spent many nights after school sitting in her room discussing thematic units, celebrations or just to hang out with her while munching on peanuts and falling out of her crazy reclining chair (which I still sit in and still almost feel like I’m going to fall out of it :-).” Nancy continues, “I missed her when she retired, as we had so many years of teaming and collaborating. There are still things that I refer to that are all so Marcia. I feel very fortunate to have known her as she was a ‘Great-o’ teacher and friend.”
An avid reader, Marcia loved to share her love of reading with her students, friends, and family. A Mrs. Spiker classroom always had an extensive
children’s library for which the children could peruse her bookcase from a wide range of topics from fiction to non-fiction, fantasy to realistic non-fiction, poetry to biographies.
Brad Powless who was in Marcia’s 6th grade classroom as a student and later a fellow educator team teaching 2nd and 3rd grade with her, talked of her love of books.
“Marcia always found new and innovative ways to use trade books in the classroom. Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, or Science was a great opportunity for Marcia to incorporate her love of books to her students. When students came into our classroom, they knew they were going to be reading and exploring many different types of literature.”
Mr. Powless adds, “She not only was a creative and great teacher, she was also a great friend. She has positively touched and affected my family in so many ways. She taught me so much about teaching and life. We will miss her.”
Although Marcia has passed on, her mark on the school remains as teachers continue to incorporate the Onondaga culture into their lessons, finding creative ways to connect to students through literature, and the desire to do the best for the children of the Onondaga Nation School. Marcia will be missed but not forgotten.
An avid reader, Marcia loved to share her love of reading with her students, friends, and family. A Mrs. Spiker classroom always had an extensive
children’s library for which the children could peruse her bookcase from a wide range of topics from fiction to non-fiction, fantasy to realistic non-fiction, poetry to biographies. Brad Powless who was in Marcia’s 6th grade classroom as a student and later a fellow educator team teaching 2nd and 3rd grade with her, talked of her love of books.
“Marcia always found new and innovative ways to use trade books in the classroom. Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, or Science was a great opportunity for Marcia to incorporate her love of books to her students. When students came into our classroom, they knew they were going to be reading and exploring many different types of literature.”
Mr. Powless adds, “She not only was a creative and great teacher, she was also a great friend. She has positively touched and affected my family in so many ways. She taught me so much about teaching and life. We will miss her.”
Although Marcia has passed on, her mark on the school remains as teachers continue to incorporate the Onondaga culture into their lessons, finding creative ways to connect to students through literature, and the desire to do the best for the children of the Onondaga Nation School. Marcia will be missed but not forgotten.
