Meghan Connelly Treglia ’06 was a go-getter from the start! A super star at Badin, Meghan was the Stephen T. Badin Award winner for the class of 2006. Meghan went on to Miami University, her parents alma mater, to achieve her Bachelor of Science in Middle Childhood Education, then went on to receive her Masters of Arts in Teaching with the Ohio Writing Project in 2013 and, finally earned her Masters of Educational School Leadership in 2016, also from Miami University.

Meghan has been teaching for nine years and currently is a sixth grade teacher at Mercer Elementary in the Forest Hills School District teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies. She has presented at numerous professional conferences to share her educational knowledge such as: High Aims Conference TED Talk Speaker, Scholastic Ohio Association of Elementary School Principals Conference, Ohio Writing Project Conferences, Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, and the Google Education Conference (Google Certified Educator). She has also taught graduate classes for the Masters of Arts in Teaching with the Ohio Writing Project at Miami University.

Meghan returns to Badin each year to award the Patrick Connelly Leadership Scholarship to a deserving senior heading to Miami University, as a tribute to her father, Pat Connelly ‘73. You can follow Mrs. Treglia, the teacher, on Twitter - @mrsmegtreg

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about living life to the fullest every day. I learned at too early of an early age that you only get one life and you never know when it will end. After losing my dad, I promised myself that I would live every day looking for the positives, enjoying the little things, and soaking up as much of this beautiful life as I can. I am passionate about traveling to new places, trying new things, and making those around me as happy as possible. This mindset carries into my relationships with my family, friends, and my career. Choosing a career in education that I am so passionate about has allowed me to live out the idea that if you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

After I decide my time in the classroom teaching young students has come to a close, I want to work in Curriculum and help teachers teach, evaluate the best texts and materials for students to learn from, and help teachers collaborate with one another. Someday, I would love to teach in the School of Education at Miami University and share my passion for education with tomorrow's generation of teachers.

Who inspires you?

My parents. Neither of them let anything stand in their way from achieving their dreams. Not only did they achieve their own, they did a fantastic job doing so. They raised me to believe that anything I wanted to do was possible and that I was capable of making a positive change in the world. Their determination, success, and drive inspires me daily. They both lived out one of my absolute favorite quotes and I couldn't be more proud to call them my parents, "Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible." -Cadet Maxim

What led you to this career?

Well, it was a combination of two events. First, it was the opportunity Badin gave us to volunteer after school with Big Brothers Big Sisters my Junior and Senior year of high school that led me to discover my extreme passion for teaching. I had never been interested in a career in education up until that point, but after being paired with my little "sister" and experiencing her joy when finally she understood a topic after I helped her, I couldn't deny that it was the best feeling in the world. From that moment on, I was hooked. In addition to BBBS, Mrs. Wimmers, my math teacher at Badin was absolutely incredible and showed me how to truly teach someone, even when it was not their favorite subject! I never loved math but because of the way she knew how to coach me when I was confused, while also making math fun, she made learning easy. After getting to know her over the years and going on a Mission Trip with her and Mrs. Helms to Tennessee, Mrs. Wimmers emailed me the summer before college and told me she thought I would make an incredible teacher. I was so honored and took her words very seriously....and still have the e-mail today.

When I headed to Miami University for my freshman year of college, I knew I wanted to enroll in the School of Education. Just to be totally sure it was the right choice, I took mostly education classes, but also took a marketing class and law class (the two careers I had previously been interested in) just to be sure education was the winner, and wow did it beat out those other classes! I am endlessly thankful Badin helped me discover my lifelong passion in education!

Favorite Quote?

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Our job as teachers and parents is not to prepare students for something; our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything." -A.J. Juliani

Where have you traveled in the world?

All over Europe when I participated in the fascinating Comparative Education Study Abroad Program at Miami University and we had the opportunity to not only observe in schools in Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg, but to also teach! It was incredible to learn so much from the interactions with others in various cultures, even when they weren't speaking English! Learning about Europe's "work to live" lifestyle vs. America's "live to work" lifestyle was a real eye opener. It was absolutely one of the most life changing experiences I've ever had as I gained an understanding of the world of education and life itself from the perspective of others! I cannot wait to go back someday!

What is your favorite book?

Now that I spend most of my time reading Young Adult novels to be able to connect and recommend the best books for my sixth grade students, I would have to say it is a strong tie between R.J. Pallacio's "Wonder," and Katherine Applegate's "The One and Only Ivan." And of course, I can't go without mentioning my favorite book series of all time, Harry Potter. All of these books center around the themes of kindness, friendship, empathy, and good conquering evil...what more do you need?

Best advice for Badin students?

Soak it in. Get involved in EVERYTHING you can. Listen to your teachers and parents. Respect your friends. Go to every Badin event you can. Participate in Spirit Week...like you mean it. Take LOTS of pictures...they'll be worth more than you know someday. Get to know your teachers, they truly care about you. Immerse yourself in the learning, there are many amazing revelations and facts to understand about our world. Make friends with as many classmates as possible. Spend time with your friends making memories instead of scrolling on your phone alone. Take advantage of all the volunteer opportunities offered. Involve yourself with something outside of your comfort zone. Take on leadership roles. Join History Club, travel, and learn. Be an integral part of the Badin family. And most importantly, like Mr. P says on the daily, "Be safe and make good decisions!"

Best memory as a Badin student?

Well, that is just impossible to choose one favorite memory because there are just too many to count! However, coming together as a class and preparing for our fabulous Spirit Week hallway decorations every year for hours on end at one another's houses was so great. But, even better than that, was winning the Spirit Week hallway competition, in addition to winning the entire Spirit Olympics our Junior year....especially after we were almost disqualified but Mr. P made the right choice and let us back in! Like our shirts said, we were kind of a big deal!

Favorite faculty/staff?

Mrs. Helms, Mrs. Wimmers, Mr. P, and Mr. Z...too many favorites! I loved their humor, joy in teaching, genuine kindness towards each student, and passion for their jobs.

Was there a particular faith related, spiritual experience you had at Badin and how did it impact your life?

Absolutely no question, Kairos was absolutely incredible and was an experience I will never forget. To spend time with those you are closest to, in addition to friends in your class who you didn't know that well, as you become so open with one another and vulnerable was indescribable. The empathy and relationships we built in those few days will last a lifetime. Kairos continues to impact my life by inspiring me to always remember to be kinder than necessary because you never know what life is really like in someone else's shoes. Always choose kind.

Is there anything in particular that you'd like to share about what you do?

I am lucky enough to work in the world of public education in 2019. I have been so fortunate to work in a district that has invested so much in me and is so progressive in ensuring we do what is best for kids. For the past few years, my sixth grade team has implemented personalized learning with our students and it has been so incredible to see what our students are capable of when given choice and voice in their learning. My students have never been so engaged and invested in their education!