Well hello there! My name is Mallory Harrison and I am the music teacher at McGraw Elementary School. I grew up in Fort Collins (went to Olander Elementary, Belvins Junior High, Rocky Mountain High School, and CSU), and have been teaching at McGraw for my entire teaching career (starting in 2007). I've always been a music person, from singing in the car on road trips (thanks for the cassette tapes, Mom), learning how to play piano, trumpet, and take voice lessons (thanks again, Mom), to getting involved in choir and band and even orchestra in school. I was in the Colorado High School All-State Choir in 2002 and studied voice for all 4 years of college. I graduated from CSU with a Bachelors of Music Education degree in 2007 and graduated again in 2008 with a Masters of Music emphasis in Kodaly Music Education (also from CSU). I would like to continue my educational studies in either a second masters degree in Music Theory or a PhD in Education. More to come later.
|
I am the oldest of three kids. My sister, Shannon, and her husband, Ryan, live and teach in Greeley with their Portuguese Water Dog, Bernard, and baby girl, Emma. Shannon choreographed dances for every 5th grade musical from 2008-2013. She also helped me write six shows, and even wrote the very first show in 2007 for me to get this tradition started! Shannon teaches 4th grade math, and Ryan teaches middle school social studies. My brother, Lucas, is back from Teresina, Brazil where he served a 2-year mission for our church. He attends BYU-I and will complete his degree in sports psychology in April. My mom and dad both live here in Fort Collins with me-- or rather, I live here with them! They also have a Porty named Watson, and my mom and dad can often be found at concerts at McGraw. Our family spends a lot of time together; we go boating in the summer, visit haunted corn mazes in the fall, snow ski in the winter, and help each other with projects as they come up. My family is a great and loving support system!
I absolutely LOVE teaching at McGraw! The students who go here are my life. I love them all-- past and present. What I love most about teaching is helping kids find something they are good at; showing kids how music is amazing, fun, and instilling an appreciation for music in their souls during these precious early years. Some of my most proud teaching moments is watching the 5th grade musical, when the students perform the ultimate show combining all their years of musical knowledge and passion. They act far beyond their years, and it is a beautiful thing. But even more rewarding than this is when former students come back to visit me and share that they are still in music at the junior high or high school level! I love being able to go to their concerts and support them. It is my hope that not only will my students be literate and amazing, but they will want to continue their musical studies post-McGraw. I had the greatest treat of all in 2014: a former student and I shared the stage in FCCT's "Seussical." This happened to be the second time we performed together; the other was in "Stories in Color." (pictured)
When I am not teaching, I can be found at the gym, watching movies, doing anything in the sun, or sometimes being a total vegetable at home reading or watching TV. I love juvenile fiction books, superhero movies (Team Wonder Woman!!) and "The Big Bang Theory." I go to the pool and boat on Boyd Lake in the summer, like to run in community 5K races year-round (I am not fast, mind you-- the students usually beat me), and have acted in several Fort Collins Children's Theater musicals in the fall. In November 2014, I was cast as Mrs. Mayor in FCCT's "Seussical the Musical" and got to perform alongside a former student! Geneva Hein played Cindy Lou Who; it was the best ever. I also sing in Laudamus Chamber Choir in Fort Collins. I am a Broadway musical junkie, and love watching touring shows in Denver. It is my dream to go to New York City with my sister to see every show we can. I am a huge fan of tennis, and love to both watch pro matches and play casual games with friends. I am a certified scuba diver, and I have been diving in the Caribbean several times in Cozumel and Bonaire. I am a sucker for cheesecake, hot chocolate, and I want to learn more about cooking. It is also a dream of mine to be a proficient tap dancer.