Marea Smith’s Educational Venture

By Desiree Cooper

Marea Smith (MEd 00) is the owner of Me and Thee Studios, which produces original Christian music and faith-based early readers for children. Marea decided to step away from public education after 17 years to pursue other education-related opportunities. In 2013, she completed a collection of leveled readers and first grade literacy supplements.

“What a joy to create a product from my 15 years of experience in first grade.” Marea has enjoyed creating a product and building a business from scratch. She said, “the learning curve from classroom educator to business owner, publisher, and advertising, marketing, and sales director has been staggering. I really only feel I’ve just begun.”

Marea Smith

Marea’s family has a long history at ENMU. Her grandparents, Floren Jr. and Mary Thompson, were key figures at the University from 1952-1982. Her parents met at ENMU. Marea explained, “I grew up enjoying ENMU people and events and felt connected to Eastern in a very unique way.”

While Marea was living and working in Waco, Texas, ENMU professors Dr. Alan Garrett and the late Dr. Kathy Peca allowed her to begin her master’s of education with long-distance directed studies. She enjoyed working with the professors both long-distance and on campus during summer classes. She valued the small class sizes, which necessitated classroom communication, and she felt challenged by the high expectation of her professors at ENMU.

She explained, “ENMU professors certainly played a significant role in refining my ability to communicate, consider variables in a given situation, and the administration training allowed me to contribute in unique ways as a classroom teacher.”

Marea and her husband Franklin Smith (MEd 10, BS 96) chose to homeschool their youngest children. “I know in years to come that I will consider this precious and fleeting time to be my life’s most important work and one of my greatest achievements.” The home school educator, who has taught world geography, ancient civilizations, world religions, astronomy, marine biology, the Middle Ages, accelerated mathematics, grammar and piano, feels more empowered than ever to challenge and motivate her students.

To learn more about her faith-based early reader materials and original Christian music, go to MeandTheeStudios.com.