Educator Spotlight: Marzicola and Ratliff

SARAH MARZICOLA

Hayes Elementary cafeteria lead Sarah Marzicola doesn’t view her role as just organizing meals and serving students breakfast and lunch. Rather, she strives to make real connections with the students as well as her building colleagues.

“Each morning I try to find a positive thing to say to the students when they come in for breakfast,” says Sarah, who wants them all to feel good as they start their day. She tries to learn something about each student, which helps her personalize the connection.

Sarah’s natural communication skills lend to being a great collaborator as well. With the rollout of a new composting program at Hayes this year, Sarah teamed with the school’s lunch monitors to devise a simple system that students could follow to compost correctly. 

Sarah, who is in her first year as cafeteria lead after working the previous year at Harrison, also frequently reaches out to other building cafeteria leads for support as she learns the ins and outs of the lead role. One of the goals Sarah has set for herself is to bolster the collaboration with the school’s Garden Club and coordinate using the lettuce grown by the club in salads served to the students. 

Sarah was no stranger to Hayes when she began her job. Her children went to Hayes and she served as PTO president several times. Principal Eric Fortuna, Sarah’s nominator, is thrilled she is now on the school’s payroll.

Says Principal Fortuna: “Sarah was a long-time active member of PTO and did so many wonderful things for our school. I'm so happy to be working with her again. She's been such a great addition to the staff and brings smiles to the kids' faces every day in the cafeteria.”

SAM RATLIFF

Individual small group instructor Sam Ratliff joined the Hayes Elementary staff fresh out of Kent State University this past fall. She says that every day since then, working with the students and staff has been a blessing. 

“I’m so lucky,” says Sam, “it doesn’t feel like work much of the time and everyone here has helped me learn the ropes.”

Sam relies on the Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of collaboration with her colleagues to help her navigate being a new educator. She reciprocates by working daily with the Hayes’ intervention specialists and teachers reporting her tutoring students’ progress.

Sam enjoys tapping into her creative thinking to provide a positive environment for learning. 

“I try to do as many fun and engaging things, like games and competitions. I think it helps them remember more,” says Sam. 

Sam views her role as a small group tutor as helping students who need the extra support in reading and math  take agency of their learning. “My goal is to make sure kids feel comfortable taking initiative of their learning and feel successful,” says Sam. She and her students spend a lot of time re-thinking or re-framing their approach so that they can feel positive about their growth and the process of learning.

Hayes Principal Eric Fortuna is grateful to have Sam in the building: “Samantha has been an outstanding addition to our building, stepping into the ISGI role quickly showing both initiative and leadership. She restarted Girls on the Run, and created a fun, superhero-themed Literacy Night that our students and families loved. She brings a positive energy to our school every day.”