By Jennifer Willhite Photos by Joel Philippsen
Mary Ann Ransdell gives love and
second chances to her It starts before the sun rises. At 7:15 a.m., Principal Mary Ann Ransdell has 30 minutes before the bell rings, and it’s just enough time to get a sense of what the day may hold. No matter what awaits on the other side of the bell, she is prepared with a smile, soft-spoken voice and compassionate nature. And a huge fan club. Ransdell’s dedication to her students for the past 23 years and her outstanding work as principal at Fodrea Community School are why she is the winner of She magazine’s She Deserves It contest, a series that highlights exceptional women nominated by She readers. Each winner receives a gift from contest sponsor Fair Oaks Mall. Having grown up with 11 siblings, Ransdell has always been around children. Reading has been the Western Kentucky alumna’s passion, and she’s worked to pass on that enthusiasm through teaching. “Knowing why some kids can’t [read] has always just been a mystery to me,” she said. “That’s what you’re always looking for the answer for. What can you do to help this one read? What can you do to help that one read?” According to Ransdell, providing a caring atmosphere in which students “feel safe and comfortable” is essential. One way she reaches her students is by making herself available to them and establishing and maintaining personal contact.
Her one-on-one time lets students know that they are each important. And, as a result, lunch with the principal has become very popular at Fodrea. Students commonly ask, “Can I have lunch with you today?” “Sometimes I’ll take a whole class, and we’ll just sit in the community ed room,” she said. “And they’ll bring their lunches up, and we’ll just chat. And then they’ll all go to recess. And … in some kids’ cases, you think they just need that one-on-one time with you. And I’ll just let one or two come with me.” Time to celebrate Rewarding positive behaviors is part of the structure and consistency that fill the halls of Fodrea. Celebrations, and sometimes costumes, play a role in that recognition. At the beginning of each nine weeks, there’s a festivity to recognize the good behaviors that occurred during the previous term. As the mother of three recently demonstrated, a great sense of humor is a crucial part of the lighthearted atmosphere of celebration. Recently she donned a chicken costume and danced the chicken dance. It was met with tremendous approval and calls for future appearances. “My sixth-grade students asked me if at graduation they could have a picture of me with them in the chicken costume,” Ransdell said. “I told them, ‘Yes’.”