On October 25, the Classical Association of Massachusetts awarded Mt. Greylock Latin teacher Marjorie Keeley with the “Excellence in Teaching” award. The Association is an organization of teachers of classical languages who work to generate interest in the study of Classics within Massachusetts. Keeley was invited to the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Dinner to receive her award. Unfortunately, she could not attend the awards ceremony because the annual Massachusetts JCL Fall Kick-Off Event, which she runs at Mt. Greylock, took place on the same day.

Keeley is actively involved in the JCL community. Junior Noah Savage explained, “She runs the Massachusetts JCL chapter at Mt. Greylock, helps host the Fall Kick-Off and takes students to both the State Convention and the National Convention.”

According to other students, Keeley earned the award for her fantastic ability to make students excited about Latin. Freshman Mae Burris-Wells said, “Mrs. Keeley is very creative. She makes translating and learning Latin interesting and fun.”

Junior Ellie Williams added, “She is enthusiastic. She knows how to share her appreciation of Latin and Classics with her students.”

Keeley has been a teacher at Mt. Greylock for 16 years and has taught hundreds of students. She said about the honor, “I have never won this award. I [originally] did not want to major in Classics because I didn’t want my hobby to become my work situation. I later discovered that making your hobby your job is an ideal situation.”