Mrs. Gaye Maxson started working at Illini Central 16.5 years ago. She began working as a paraprofessional in the middle school in January of 2006 and then moved to the grade school. Mrs. Maxson has spent the last three years working with students in the high school.
“Many people have inspired me, especially my parents, but ultimately it is Jesus Christ. I have made my share of mistakes, but I strive to live by his words and example.” replied Mrs. Maxson when asked about the people who inspired her to make a difference.
Being a paraprofessional means a person is challenged to motivate students while assisting the classroom teacher. When asked what motivates her to work hard, Mrs. Maxson answered “I learned early on that to be good at anything, or to have good results on an endeavor, you have to practice, learn from your mistakes, put in the time and work hard at it. The satisfaction of finally getting it right is my reward.” While at IC, she has been able to use her motivation to help the students in her classes.
“It may seem like you have plenty of time to take care of things later, but life flies by much faster than you can imagine. If you want to enjoy your retirement, start saving for it now. If you want a fulfilled life with love, joy and peace, get into a relationship with Jesus now. Accepting His love and lordship has made all the difference in my life.” is the advice that Mrs. Maxson would share with others.
When asked about her favorite quote, Mrs. Maxson remembered something told to her by Donna Brayfield, a former teacher at Illini Central "We try to leave the world better than we found it."
Over the past nineteen years Mrs. Maxson & her husband, John have worked at restoring and running the Arlee Theater. The majority of her spare time is spent at the theater. But, when time allows she does dabble in many other activities such as reading, walking, biking, crocheting, sewing, gardening, reading and picture puzzles.
In retirement, Mrs. Maxson is looking forward to spending more time with her family and attending her grandchildren’s events.
As Mrs. Maxson’s Illini Central career comes to an end, we asked what would be her favorite memory from her time at IC. “Seeing students who succeeded despite obstacles brings me much joy. I have worked with a lot of good and interesting coworkers and students, and those are the memories that will last.” was Mrs. Maxson’s response.
Mrs. Maxson has had an impact on numerous students’ lives during her time at IC. Thank you for always sharing your compassion, understanding & work ethic with the students of Illini Central. Our students are better for their time with you.
#WeAreIC #BeJimmy