Artwork adds splashes of color to the hallways of Maryland Elementary School. Laughter, singing and high-pitched chatter spill out of the classrooms, and the environment of North Bexley’s elementary school en-courages learning.
Principal Rachel Niswander said Maryland staff does their best to support students.
“We always work to problem solve to find ways to give our students what they need,” she explained.
For example, if a student takes band and orchestra, the school works to fit both classes into their schedule, so they don’t have to pick, Niswander said. If the student doesn’t have an instrument, they will work to get them the resources they require, she added.
Former Maryland student and sophomore Gibson Price said he thinks the school fosters connection between students and staff.
“It was tight knit,” he said. “Everyone knew each other, and even if you didn’t have a certain teacher, they would still know your name.”
Former Maryland student and sophomore Vivian Gockstetter said she thinks the school had a positive effect on her childhood.
“It’s such a great environment to thrive in as a young kid,” she said. “I always felt really comfortable there.”
Maryland fifth grader Clara Buckley said her favorite teacher is fifth grade teacher Margaret Cieply.
“She’s very nice, and she encourages me a lot with my stuff and helps me when I get stuck,” she said.
The school focuses on promoting kindness and nurturing relationships between students and teachers across grade levels, Niswander said. She added one way they do this is with their Flock program.
Cieply explained the Flock program connects students from different grades. Students meet with their “flock” every Friday to do activities that focus on promoting kindness and connection, she said.
“I think it allows people to have more relationships and hopefully look out for each other,” Cieply explained.
Price said learning to be respectful has stayed with him and helped shape him into the person he is today.
Buckley said she thinks Maryland is a special place where students can be themselves without fear of judgment.
“It’s always been the kind of place you can be anything you want,” she explained. “You can be special and unique.”
Gockstetter said Maryland is memorable because of the sense of community students get while going to school there.
“That bond you have with your classmates and how it’s encouraged at Maryland is very special,” she added.
“The teachers all have their own fun ways of incorporating different events and activities.”
Gockstetter said she still remembers some of the activities she did at Maryland, like making tie-dye shirts, reading books and doing arts and crafts.
Price said he liked how the teachers differentiated their teaching methods. To teach math, he said, some teachers would use mystery math packets where you had to solve math problems in order to solve the mystery.
Emily Buckley, the parent of a fifth grader, said she enjoys the different makeup of families at Maryland.
“You have a variety of backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses,” she said. “There’s more diversity than maybe other areas of Bexley, and I think that enriches the experience there.”
Gockstetter said the school encourages lots of Maryland pride.
“It’s just a really special place I was lucky to be a part of,” she said.
Published and digitized November 2025.
