A History Lesson - Jerilyn Mehaffey Morgan '68

As a high school senior in Massachusetts, Jerilyn Mehaffey Morgan '68 was certain of two things: she wanted to become a teacher and she wanted to attend college out of state. To that end, she decided to visit Gorham State Teachers College, located in a small town in Maine. The rest, as they say, is history––or in Jerilyn Mehaffey Morgan's case, a history teacher: Miss Esther E. Wood.

Miss Esther Wood taught Maine and American history for 43 years at Gorham State Teachers College, a University of Southern Maine predecessor institution. During her long tenure, she left an indelible impression on more than one generation of aspiring teachers.

"Everyone wanted to be in Miss Wood's history classes," remembers Jerilyn. "She really knew how to catch your attention. She was a four-foot-nine dynamo who had a way of taking charge of the classroom––even in a room full of six-foot-tall athletes."

Miss Wood certainly inspired Jerilyn. "She was a big influence on my teaching style. She showed me the importance of commanding respect from your students––and giving it back in return."  Read more