Story by Desiree M. Cooper
Communication Services
"The learning curve from classroom educator to business owner has been staggering. I really only feel I've just begun." – Marea Smith
Marea Smith, who received a master's of education with an emphasis in administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 2000, is the owner of Me and Thee Studios, which produces original Christian music and faith-based early readers for children in Portales.
Mrs. Smith's family has a long history at ENMU. Her grandparents, Floren Jr. and Mary Thompson, were key figures at the university from 1952-1982. Her parents met at ENMU and had "fond memories of their time on campus. I grew up enjoying ENMU people and events and felt connected to Eastern in a very unique way."
When Mrs. Smith researched online course completion in 1998, there were very few options available. While she was living and working in Waco, Texas, ENMU professors Dr. Alan Garrett and the late Dr. Kathy Peca allowed her to begin her M.Ed with long-distance directed studies.
"I enjoyed my work with many of the professors both long-distance and during the summers on campus," said the Portales-native.
The 2010 Golden Apple Elementary Teacher of the Year felt "challenged at ENMU. I learned how to study and prepare for projects. My professors set and held high expectations for me.
"The classes were small enough that I was expected to participate actively in every meeting," she continued. "ENMU professors certainly played a significant role in refining my ability to communicate well and flexibly consider variables in a given situation.
"The administration training allowed me to contribute in unique ways as a classroom teacher," said the teacher, who often hosted ENMU students in her classroom and shared experiences extensively with pre-service teachers. "I led many teams and authored countless curriculum resources."
Mrs. Smith said having her master's degree "allowed a more substantial salary while teaching in public education. That salary allowed my family to strategically plan financially for more entrepreneurial opportunities."
The Portales-native decided to remain in the area after obtaining her degree because she and her husband "wanted to ‘do life' with the dear friends and family we have here, and the friends and family we have yet to meet. We choose to stay in Portales because we feel we have so much to offer our hometown."
The two-time Public Service Company of New Mexico Classroom Innovation grant recipient decided to step away from public education after 17 years to pursue other education-related opportunities.
Mrs. Smith chose to homeschool her youngest children. She "loves the challenge; I know in years to come that I will consider this precious and fleeting time to be my life's most important work and one of my greatest achievements."
The home school educator, who has taught world geography, ancient civilizations, world religions, astronomy, marine biology, the Middle Ages, accelerated mathematics, grammar and piano, feels "more empowered than ever to challenge and motivate my students. I've always said the most important and the very best teacher a child can have is their own interested and involved parent."
In 2013, she completed a collection of leveled readers and first grade literacy supplements
"What a joy to create a product from my 15 years of experience in first grade," said the 2003-2005 Action Research grant recipient.
She travels often to share her and her husband's curriculum resources and best-practice instructional methodology with private schools and home schooling families.
While Mrs. Smith has "enjoyed creating a product and building a business from scratch, the learning curve from classroom educator to business owner, publisher, and advertising, marketing, and sales director has been staggering. I really only feel I've just begun."
Mrs. Smith's favorite hobbies are camping and traveling with her family. She also enjoys remodeling and renovation projects with her husband.
Four years ago, the ENMU graduate began learning Spanish in an immersion experience in Mexico and took beginning classes at Eastern, which she said she'd like to pick up again in the near future.
Mrs. Smith hopes to "begin a Spanish translation of my leveled readers and literacy resources and a picture-based app of our collection specifically geared for children with disabilities and non-English speaking children in the world mission's field.
The wife and mother "loves the flexibility of working from home. From spending the day with my oldest as he registered at ENMU last May to canning apples this fall, I've been able to enjoy some really beautiful moments that I would have missed in the more ‘normal' business we'd come to expect from life."
Connect with Mrs. Smith at MeandTheeStudios.com.
