(June 17, 2022) High school science teacher Stephanie Monk-George spends her weekdays educating students about biology and the living environment at Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School. However, in her spare time, she has taken on another important role as the administrator of the RCSD Happy Things Facebook page.
Ms. Monk-George created the RCSD Happy Things Facebook page in November 2021 as a way of spreading joy through positive postings about the students, families, and employees of the Rochester City School District. Seven months later, the group has become so much more than a place to share positive happenings in the District. It has grown to more than 1,300 members, serving as a welcoming environment where people have built a sense of community by sharing and celebrating each other’s happiness. World of Inquiry School No. 58 teacher Jamie Schenk has been added as a second administrator of the page.
When asked about why she started the Facebook page, Ms. Monk-George stated, “The District is comprised of thousands of people, each with a story, and in the center of that story is the work of the heart.” She explained how the page has been a real oasis from much of the contentious material on the Internet. “When we begin to see more of the positive work that we are already a part of, I believe we will be energized to do more to nurture the young hearts in each classroom and build community.”
Even though the school year ends next week, Ms. Monk-George hopes to keep the momentum going throughout the summer months.
