BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Marcia Trexler, has come a long way since her days as a student at Bow Memorial School.

Trexler, who was inspired by her home economics teacher, Jean Harmon, while in middle school, went on to Concord High School to take more home economics courses.

She then graduated with a home economics degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1979 and has been teaching for the past 27 years.

Now, Trexler is the family and consumer science teacher at Bow Memorial School, having replaced Harmon, who retired 15 years ago.

“It was a lot like coming home because I walked these halls as a student myself,” said Trexler. “Most importantly, it allowed me to continue with the age group I love in middle school.”

On June 9, Trexler’s hard work and dedication was honored by her peers as she was named the 2007 New Hampshire Family and Consumer Science Teacher of the Year.

“She is a role model for everyone – teachers, kids – and is held in absolutely the highest regard by everyone on this building,” said Bow Memorial School Principal Kirk Spofford. “I can say without the slightest hesitation that the award she recieved, well, there’s no question that no one deserves it more than her.”

Trexler’s passion for education, she said, began at a young age, when she was a child growing up in Bow.

Her mother, Louise Wagner, was a secretary at Bow Memorial School and Bow Elementary School and her father, Howard Wagner, was science teacher and consultant for the New Hampshire Department of Education. He later would serve as assistant superintendent for SAU 19, which at the time included Bow, Dunbarton, Goffstown and New Boston.

“The talk around the dinner table was always positive. My parents were always upbeat educational people, which was definitely a major influence in becoming a teacher,” she said. “I loved English, too, and I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but what subject, I wasn’t sure until I got to high school.”

Before returning to teach in the very classroom she once learned in at Bow Memorial School, Trexler taught for one year at both Epping and Newport High School, and for 10 years at Rundlett Junior High School in Concord.

She was almost forced to split time between the junior high in Concord, after home economics began to be phased out by the school district, when she was informed, in 1992, that Harmon was retiring.

She applied and was offered the position, and over the last 15 years, has been teaching every child, grades 5 though 8, family and consumer science.

“I love what I do. It’s definitely life skills that kids need at this age,” said Trexler. “The foods piece, the health piece and safety, which is always a big part of my program, they’re all very important for my
students.

“What I really love about teaching in Bow is I have kids for all the grades, so I get to watch them grow up, which is pretty neat. It makes it exciting for me.”

Spofford said Trexler is invaluable.

“She is an outstanding educator, particularly in the area of family and consumer science, and she’s always been the consummate professional,” said Spofford. “She’s a huge asset to the whole school district, and in particular, Bow Memorial School, and is, in terms of classroom teachers, absolutely as good as it gets.

“The kids just love her; you could ask ten random kids and they’d all tell you she’s great,” he continued. “But it’s because she demands they work hard, but she’s always there to assist them and support them, which they respect. She’s truly a great asset to us.”

In addition, Trexler mentors beginner family and consumer science teachers from other school districts. She has also designed a program, in conjunction with Bow Mills Bank, to teach eighth-graders to be educated consumers through checkbook balancing and other skills.

She also holds extracurricular activities for students, such as before- and after-school sewing sessions, and involves her students in community service projects,  including donations to the local soup kitchen.

Outside of the classroom, Trexler serves on the Bow School District nutrition and professional development committees, is a member of the Bow Education Association, where she is a building representative and is on the contract negotiations team, and is on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Family and Consumer Science Association.