Vital Viking leads with integrity in the classroom

Currently serving as an art teacher on the high school and middle school levels, Greene’s dedication inside the classroom and outside the classroom as the yearbook adviser is evidence of servant leadership in action.

“My students teach me something new almost every day: grit, community, and empathy,” she said. “Through teaching and working with students I was introduced to the ‘growth mindset’ and I’m a firm believer that we are all capable of being lifelong learners. Our students are incredibly resilient, and when they come to class with an open mind, they’ve shown that they can do more than they think is possible.”

Originally an art major at Malone, life’s twists and turns eventually pointed her in the direction of education and she didn’t look back.

“My experiences in Malone’s education and art programs helped me learn how to be flexible and adapt to the constantly changing climate of education,” she said. “Many of my field placements were outside of my content area, so I used those opportunities to learn more about collaboration and making cross-curricular connections, using art to further students’ understanding of the core subjects. This also helped me to earn several mini-grants through Arts in Stark in my first four years of teaching.”

“Candice was great to have in class because she was so creative, dedicated, and thoughtful,” said Sarah Winther Shumaker, adjunct instructor and former gallery curator for Malone. “She was a busy mom, but made sure everything she did was top-notch, well thought-out, and inventive.”

Malone’s focus on community outreach planted a seed early on that showed Greene the value of servant leadership.

“I remember during freshman orientation completing service projects which really set the tone for my college experience and my career path,” she said. “Education requires a servant’s heart, and while I have recently been on the receiving-end of recognition and praise for my work, those moments don’t always happen. It can be difficult in the tough stretches to remember that we didn’t become educators for recognition but, rather, to serve our community. I have been told throughout my life that I was a ‘leader’ and never really understood that description of myself because I tend to shy away from the spotlight. It was through my education at Malone and lessons in my early career that I have realized that you can lead quietly through actions, by living with integrity and modeling God’s love for others.”

Recently announced a finalist for the 2022 Stark County Art Educator of the Year Award, Greene’s prayer for future educators is that they will remember the passion that brought them to teaching.

“I hope that future educators remain passionate about helping children thrive,” she said. “Children are our future and they deserve nothing less than that. I often pray that the climate for educators begins to make work-life balance easier to attain so they have the time they need during the workday to prepare for their students without taking time away from their own families.”