Live Oak High School teacher Mo Davies sat reading
”
Are You My Mother?
”
to 4-year-old Seth Millward in front of her room overlooking
east Morgan Hill Friday afternoon.
Morgan Hill
Live Oak High School teacher Mo Davies sat reading “Are You My Mother?” to 4-year-old Seth Millward in front of her room overlooking east Morgan Hill Friday afternoon.
Davies has a motherly quality of her own: the 27-year veteran Morgan Hill Unified School District teacher has had a hand in ushering thousands of children into public education and, simultaneously, into adulthood.
Davies has run Live Oak High School’s preschool Regional Occupational Program for 27 years and will retire June 5. The future of the program is unknown at this time. District trustees approved the layoff of two ROP teachers this spring but officials have pledged their support for the program. To Davies’ knowledge, a replacement has not yet been hired. A call to Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Michael Johnson was not immediately returned.
Three- and 4-year-olds who attend the preschool learn social skills through a variety of activities including crafts, snack time and circling up to hear stories and play games, Davies said. The program is facilitated by Live Oak students, who learn work experience and get an idea of what being a real teacher is like.
Davies, a petite brunette with a calm, controlled presence, said there are some similarities between the two age groups.
“They’re both seeking independence,” Davies, 61, said.
Davies said her first love was teaching high school – but soon fell in love with the preschool age group as well.
“Understanding that age, being able to share their excitement in learning makes a great preschool teacher,” Julia Millward said. Millward’s preschooler Seth is in Davies last class. “Those are hard shoes to fill.”
Fellow Live Oak ROP program head Donna Ruebusch, whose own children went through Davies’ program, said Davies has always gone the extra mile to help her students. One year, Davies got in the habit of making lunch and dinner for a homeless student and tucking the meals away for the student to discreetly pick up. Other times, she ushered students through drug problems or losing a parent, Ruebusch said.
“If students spend just one hour with her, they’re better from it,” she said.
Davies sat quietly as Ruebusch raved. She said her favorite part of teaching has been getting to know her students, young and old.
“She’s not like the other teachers,” senior Mandi Hawkins said as she stapled pictures to the vibrantly-colored walls. “She’s a good role model.”
Hawkins said being in Davies’ class was a good opportunity to decide if she wanted to work with children She doesn’t, but for unrelated reasons.
“You can talk to her about anything and she understands,” senior Courtney Welch added.
Welch described Davies as a “firm but laid back” teacher, and said she’s enjoyed having conversations with the preschoolers each day during snack time.
“It’s kind of amazing to see how the kids have grown,” she said.
Davies said the same. She’s inspired dozens of students to pursue a career in teaching, and had a hand in raising literally thousands of Morgan Hill residents.
Davies, who lives in San Jose with her husband of 40 years, plans to spend her retirement traveling, volunteering and spending time with her grandchild.
