BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — She’s taught thousands of the Coast’s youngest learners to talk, play and grow. Now, an early education teacher is turning to another chapter, but her lessons aren’t going anywhere.
“My passion was children,” said Margaret Crawford. “I always wanted to teach children.”
Teaching children is what Crawford has done since 1990 at Moore Community House.
“For people that really need childcare, Moore’s was a safe place.”
Moore Community House has laid the foundation for East Biloxi children for more than a century. Now, the centers serve low-income families. Crawford’s approach is all about love first.
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“Just loving them, because a lot of them don’t get that type of nurturing, and give them an avenue for them to come here and have another place to have fun because they learn through play.”
The kids aren’t the only ones learning from Ms. Margaret. Shayla Taylor uses her example working with children every day.
“I remember being in the classroom and Ms. Margaret telling us every day we should be tired from talking to the children all day,” said Taylor. “Talk, talk, talk — that’s all she preached. That’s how they learn. Children ages 0-3 learn through play and communication. That’s what Ms. Margaret preached.”
Part of educating is overcoming challenges. None was bigger than Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed the Moore Community House.
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“We didn’t even have a paper clip,” said Crawford. “We didn’t have anything, but we knew the community needed childcare.”
After the storm, Crawford went to work. A year and a half after Hurricane Katrina, childcare was available again at Gorenflo Elementary. A few years later, brand-new Head Start centers followed. Through storms and daily obstacles, she’s stayed committed to her mission.
“A lot of days I wanted to throw the keys and don’t come back, but because of my passion, it kept me here for my 34+ years.”
Now, Crawford is officially retiring. She’s handing the keys over to others such as Katina Spaulding, who’s worked with her for almost two decades. Spaulding is ready to carry on the legacy.
“I love Ms. Margaret,” said Spaulding. “She shaped my career and gave me an opportunity when there was none. There aren’t enough words to describe Ms. Margaret’s impact not just on me, but the entire East Biloxi community.”
Although Crawford will no longer be present every day, the Moore Community House will keep building up the Coast’s future generations.
“Moore has been here a long time serving this community,” said Crawford. “It’s going to keep going. I love Moore Community House.”
In retirement, Crawford plans to spend a lot more time with her own grandchildren.
Moore Community House is a nonprofit. There is a long waiting list of families wanting their children to be enrolled in the early learning programs. More teachers like Crawford are always needed to meet the demand.
For more information on Moore Community House, visit moorecommunityhouse.org.
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