Meet Trailblazer Gwynne Fullmer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gwynne Fullmer.

Gwynne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Chicago, later traveling to Idaho and Utah to attend college. After changing my major, every 15 minutes or so until I finally decided on the field of Special Education. I started my career as a third-grade teacher, then became a Resource Room teacher. I stayed at home for about twenty years to raise my family with a little tutoring and substituting thrown in here and there.

My husband Jim and I have five children, 3 boys and 2 girls who are all grown now. We lived in Salt Lake City, Northern California, Mesa, and Albuquerque before choosing Gilbert as our home. While the kids were growing up I spent many hours volunteering at their schools in the PTSO, PTA, and Booster Clubs. The service opportunities started out small, but when the volunteer bug bit, they blossomed into leadership positions. I was a PTSO President, a Fundraising Vice-President, a Colorguard Chair, and a Uniform Chair. Selling tickets, taking measurements, performing room checks, dressing as a piece of pizza, collecting candle sale packets, sleeping on buses — You name it! I did it! I helped to organize an annual Orchestra breakfast called “Fiddles and Flapjacks,” which was enormously successful for several years, and also helped raise over $80,000 when the group was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall. Let’s face it – Volunteering is addictive and habit forming! The more you do, the more involved you want to be.
When my youngest graduated from high school, I didn’t know what I would do with my “off hours.” Her final concert was such a traumatic event for me that I drove about five miles per hour on the way to the school, trying to make the moment last. So many happy memories were about to dissolve into the realm of the past.

You know what they say about doors closing and windows opening! One of the perks of volunteering in district schools is the connections made with other local leaders. These connections allowed me to discover other venues to give back to the community. A love of Christmas trees led me to the Gilbert Community Action Network where I helped to schedule entertainment and recruit tree decorators. This also led to involvement with the annual Gilbert Character Counts Breakfast which honored students of exceptional character. I was also asked to organize volunteers for the state Special Olympics when it was held in the East Valley.

One night my Caller ID displayed a call from a contact I KNEW would throw me out of my comfort zone. I didn’t answer it! I waited about a week and finally returned the call that led to one of the greatest blessings of my life. I was asked to be a volunteer with the JustServe initiative. JustServe is a website that links volunteers to non-profit organizations who post their needs on the site. My challenge was to both approach non-profits in my area and encourage them to post their needs on the website, and to teach potential volunteers how to use the website. It was slow at first, but with the help of friends and community members, requests began to pour in. Oh, the wonderful people I was able to meet! I met Kayla Kolar of HD South, Krystylle Richardson, who works tirelessly with the homeless, Gul Siddiqi of Helping Hand for Relief and Development, and Hayley Smith, a younger-than-most woman who has organized her own refugee camp in Greece as well as satellite groups here in the southwest. These are just a few of the unsung heroes right in our own neighborhood who are reaching out to the community and the world with the assistance of local volunteers. They feel very blessed to have the JustServe resource to find volunteers, and I, in turn, feel extremely blessed to have met them.

By day, I am a Special Education Preschool teacher at Meridian Elementary in Gilbert Public Schools. Preschool was the first Special Education position I was offered when I decided to return to the classroom, and I was dubious! What if I didn’t speak “four-year-old?” Early Childhood Education has since become my passion. Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain is nearly fully grown by age 5? The early childhood years are crucial for making neural connections. It’s not just playdough and crayons. It’s a science! Preschool lays the foundation for all kinds of learning in the grades ahead. Most of Gilbert’s preschools are integrated, meaning that children with disabilities learn alongside typically developing peers in a perfect inclusion model. Children learn so much from each other. I often say that I am just a prop in this operation! Truly the joy of watching a nonverbal to develop into a thriving student is immeasurable. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ever see posters with the phrase, “Nobody ever said teaching was going to be easy.”? Many have left the teaching profession because of low pay, little respect, and time-consuming activities like grading papers, data collection, lesson planning, and other campus duties. The amount of money a teacher spends on his or her classroom is absolutely mind-blowing. Long hours, stinging criticisms, challenging student behaviors, and other stress points can take their toll. When my first teaching certificate expired, I actually breathed a sigh of relief.

In time, though, the classroom drew me back. I learned I loved to be around schools and children; loved to watch them discover and improve their skills and listening to them talk.

I thought going back after so many years away would be easy, but it was not! State certification required extra classes and lots of expenses. After taking the job, I found I was painfully new to the world of Early Childhood, and not everyone was patient with my mistakes. I was determined, though, to persevere. I attended classes, did additional reading, and sought advice from people I admired. Eventually, what looked to be a sinking ship began to rise to the surface, safely afloat and ready to handle the tossing waves. The extra work became not a chore, but a passion. I wanted to learn everything I could about early childhood best practices and made goals to improve my teaching each year. In 2012, I received an “Outstanding Service in Special Education” award for my campus, a sign that I might just be on the right path.

My advice to others who might feel they do not measure up is to believe in yourself. Do you think you are just ordinary? Great! Because it is ordinary people working together who make differences in the world. Realize that when you tell people you are an early childhood teacher, their response may be, “How nice!” They may underestimate your value, not knowing the huge amount of research and study that has been involved in your preparation. Know that those who criticize you outwardly do not recognize the passion and drive that burns inside you. Weigh advice carefully, allow yourself baby steps, set goals, and by all means, eat a lot of chocolate! It helps.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Early Childhood Special Education,, JustServe.org;, Arizona Division for Early Childhood – what should we know?
Our Preschool classroom objective is to create a warm, loving, and motivating language-rich environment wherein children will explore, discover, interact and grow, preparing for a lifetime of learning. My colleagues and I strive to provide developmentally appropriate activities that help children achieve a strong sense of self. I don’t know how much different I am from others in that regard except that my team is always looking for new ways to drive a concept home. We plan activities that will inspire language, realizing that not all learning takes place in a classroom. If we need to dress up in funny clothes, go on a field trip, or handling creepy crawly animals, we will do it. Children are encouraged to let their own creativity reign in the classroom. We support a play-based environment, free of mass-produced worksheets and “do-it-like-I-do” art projects. Hands-on discovery is paramount to children’s’ success.
I am most proud of the fact that younger siblings of my former students look forward to being in my classroom. Their eyes are wide with wonder when it is finally “their turn” to join the class. The relationships that have developed with many of these families are precious to me.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Way back in seventh grade, I remember reading a quote attributed to Isaac Newton; “If I have seen further than others, it is only by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” This quote has stayed with me throughout my life. If I have done anything noteworthy in life, it is because I have been inspired by others.

I participate in a lot of professional development classes to stay on top of recent research and learn effective strategies. Networking with other professionals is vital in every career, and Early Childhood is no exception. I was fortunate to discover the Arizona Division for Early Childhood, a division of the Council for Exceptional Children. I began attending meetings initially just to interface with the state’s leading professionals in the field and broaden my foundation of knowledge. This group was so welcoming and supportive! I continued to attend meetings, eventually became a member of the board, and currently serve as President. Professional memberships can be a great asset for expanding knowledge and establishing a network of helpful contacts.

There really is an immense web of research, instruction, and support out there if you just look for it. My email signature includes a quote from Robert Browning: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a heaven for?” It takes a bit of effort to reach beyond your immediate surroundings, but it is forever worth it.

The same principles apply to volunteering with JustServe. I meet periodically with a group of JustServe specialists to share ideas which are then passed on to a team of individuals who spread the word to potential volunteers. My JustServe efforts have given me the opportunity to introduce non-profit directors to one another, a move that has blossomed beyond my wildest dreams! Agencies are coming together to share food donations, combine resources, and participate in committees and discussion groups. School Connect, a local agency that helps schools acquire resources and improvements, is prepared to work hand-in-hand with JustServe to recruit volunteers for the many projects they inspire.

I’ll close with a quote from Booker T. Washington, who said, “I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” I have met so many people who emulate this sentiment. It’s my great hope that I can fully implement this in my own life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justserve.org
• Email: gwynne.fullmer@gilbertschools.net
• Twitter: @msgwynne
• Other: jgfullmer@cox.net

Image Credit:
JILL BRANCH PHOTOGRAPHY

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