When Mary Lohr first stepped into Carroll County High School as an instructional coach, she admits she was a little nervous. Having spent most of her teaching career in middle school, the idea of working with high schoolers felt intimidating.
“I walked in on day one scared of high school students,” Lohr recalls with a laugh. “It didn’t take me long to realize kids are kids. They have the same victories and defeats as middle schoolers.”
That sense of humor and her unmistakable laugh have been part of Lohr’s approach to education throughout her 27-year career. From teaching language arts and math in Oldham County, to instructional coaching, to serving as associate principal at Carroll County Middle School, and finally as the district’s federal programs coordinator, Lohr has worn many hats. Each role, she says, taught her something new.
“I feel like every year in every position I’ve learned,” she says. “Carroll County has opened doors for me to learn about things I knew nothing about. I’m thankful for every opportunity this district has given me, and I hope I leave things better than when I arrived.”
Lohr spent 18 years in the classroom in Oldham County before making the jump to Carroll County. Once here, she found herself growing alongside the district.
“There were a lot of growing pains for the district when I first started,” she says. “At the same time, I was experiencing my own growing pains.”
She points to Carroll County’s collaborative approach as a highlight of her time here.
“I feel like the central office and all the schools are working toward a common goal that’s going to push the students,” she says.
While she’s taken on big-picture roles like learning the ins and outs of federal funding, Lohr says her favorite memories are still from the classroom.
“My favorite will always be in the classroom,” she says. “You get to see the direct impact on students and experience their ‘aha’ moments. You don’t get that when you’re not with the kids.”
Lohr, who taught both math and language arts, jokes that her “left-brained” personality was well-suited for diagramming sentences and working through algebra problems, though she admits teaching poetry was a challenge.
As she prepares to step away from education, Lohr is focused on family, fun, and figuring out what’s next. She’s planning to spend the summer with loved ones, catch up on her reading list, and maybe even learn how to play the banjo.
“My focus is on my family and me this summer,” she says. “And then I’ll know what I want to do when I grow up.”