Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Maxwell.
Hi Ellie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am one of 6 children and was always the “teacher” of the group. My version of play was playing school. My siblings and the neighborhood kids were always the students and I was always the teacher. I went to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) in San Marcos, Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. While teaching, I earned my Master of Science in Educational Administration at Texas A&I University. I was an educator for 30 years, 11 in the classroom and 19 as an administrator. After retiring from education, I worked as a Training & Development Specialist for five years. I am currently an Event Planner for 1HOPE for Kids, a non-profit, Christian organization that places children from hard places into licensed foster homes. In my spare time, I create custom-decorated sugar cookies, volunteer at my church, and spend time with my husband and adult children.
My husband is also a retired educator. He coach for 30 years so athletics has always been a huge part of our lives. Family time centered around football, basketball, etc.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have always been extremely blessed. When I think of the struggles in life, I don’t consider them struggles but learning opportunities. Of course, in the midst of the struggle, I don’t always view what I’m experiencing as a learning opportunity, but I always compare the situation to what others are going through, and that helps me put my struggle into perspective. Once I get through the initial emotions of a tough time, I can easily look back and identify learning moments, and God winks.
Education as a whole was and still is a challenging career, especially as an administrator. Administrators are faced with balancing doing what is right for children, what is good for teachers, and what is expected by parents. Throw the school district and state into that, and it’s like juggling running chainsaws! I had a handful of really tough situations as a principal, but I can’t go into details. What I can say is that those situations caused a lot of tears, sleepless nights, and an overall loss of confidence in my skills and abilities.
I have regained a lot of the confidence I lost at the end of my educational career in my current roles. I’m successfully coordinating and facilitating events that put smiles on others’ faces and benefit children in foster care as well as decorating beautiful, tasty sugar cookies!!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ask anyone, and they’ll say “Ellie is an organizer”. Both of my parents were super organized, excellent planners, so I guess it’s in my DNA. As a teacher, administrator, training and development specialist, and now as an event planner, I am great with systems, processes, and people. I can plan anything down to the tiniest detail. I love looking at a situation and improving on it by standing back and observing, and then taking action.
I’m most proud of my children. They grew up to be healthy, happy, successful people. They are both in loving relationships, have full-time professional jobs, and own their own homes. The part Greg and I appreciate the most is that our adult children love coming home and spending time with us! We frequently look at each other and say, “We did well raising our kids!”
How do you define success?
Success is happiness. If I’m happy with my role in a situation, or my impact on a person, I feel successful. This has been the case throughout my career as an educator and leader and now as an event planner, church volunteer and cookie decorator. Nothing makes me feel more successful and therefore happy than to see happiness on another person’s face, especially if I had something to do with their happiness!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliemaxwell8
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellie.s.maxwell
