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By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH
Starting each day with a smile is a practice that helps Casey Mayo face challenges both at work and in the rest of his life.
At age 37, he is finishing his sixth year as principal of Barnesville Middle School. And while he said that being an administrator in a school system can be challenging, being a mentor to students and helping them thrive is the "ultimate role."
He and his wife, Erin White Mayo, have three sons - 11-year-old Casin, 8-year-old Parker and Hudson, who is 1½. The family has two dogs, Lexi and Cally, and they all live on The Mayo Family Farm, working with cattle.
And while a "typical day" may not exist for any educator, Mayo does have some patterns and routines that help things go smoothly. He starts his day between 4 and 5 a.m. with a morning Bible study and workout before having breakfast and getting his boys ready for school. He said he typically arrives at school by 7 a.m., "and the day doesn't slow down 'til 4."
"Most days are filled with covering classes, due to lack of (substitute teachers); discussing the logistical changes for the week; to dealing with student needs, discipline or other," he said.
When he arrives home around 4:30 p.m., he checks on the cows and takes care of the farm. The rest of his evening is usually devoted to being there for his wife and their boys.
As for their reason for choosing to build their life together in the Ohio Valley, Mayo said it is simple: family.
"We've always been close to our families and staying in the area was a priority for both of us," he said. "We wanted our children to grow up with their grandparents as we did, and felt that we could make it work here."
He and Erin arrived at that conclusion after having some experience working outside the region.
"I feel that each day comes with its own lessons. One particular experience was the job that I had prior to teaching," Mayo said. "My job gave me the opportunity to travel across the country to film hunts -- it was an amazing opportunity, but in reality it separated me from ones that I loved, especially my wife.
"My dad, Frank Mayo, and my father-in-law, Thad White, gave me some of the best advice that I have ever received. They told me that sometimes in life you have to find the priority, whether it be your family or your career, but the ultimate goal is to find the career that works for your family. They told me to continue my dream and pray for understanding in my path.
Per their advice, I accepted a job to teach at Claymont High School and began my career in education.
"They helped me to understand that a career or title doesn't make you important. You have to make yourself and family important. As my father in law always said, "Every day is a good day," and as Grandma Mayo said, "Smile today, because we don't know what tomorrow brings."
Sage advice like that also helped him choose a motto to live by: "Always smile; it's contagious." That was a lesson he learned from both sides of his family.
"My grandmothers both had a sense of understanding that would emulate with their smile. They proved that even in difficult times a smile can help brighten someone's day," he said.
As an educator, Mayo has the opportunity each day to see the potential of his students, and that is something he sees as a bright spot for our region.
"Our youth has to be one of the brightest spots overlooked," he said. "Oftentimes we get so caught up in the hustle of each day that we tend to forget that our youth are growing up without good mentors and leaders. They are sponges and truly showcase our area better than anyone."
Mayo also feels confident that the demand for professionals in the field of education in the area will only grow.
"Education is constantly evolving, and teaching our children will never go away," he noted. "Our future depends on the youth that are growing up through our schools. I worry that social media is truly affecting how fast our kids are growing up and how fast they are learning how to become an adult, maybe in the wrong ways. The truth is we need more educators to help teach all of our children how to become community members, leaders, and the future of not only our country, but our world."
And for other young people looking to become educators or otherwise enter the workforce, Mayo advises them to follow their hearts.
"Dream big but stay humble," he said. "It's great to have aspirations to become the next great entrepreneur or leader, but it takes a special skill to be humble and recognize a different path or mindset to achieve your dreams. Dreams can change and adapt, we must do the same."