Ashley Marchese, a Smithtown High School West teacher and athletics coach, recently had what she called “an experience of a lifetime.”
Marchese attended the Marine Corps Educators Workshop in Parris Island, South Carolina, all-expenses-paid trip provided by the military. A total of 51 educators from New York, Maryland and Virginia attended this workshop.
From the moment she stepped off the bus and stood on the famous yellow footprints, Marchese had a full schedule that culminated with watching 230 recruits graduate on May 16. Highlights of the trip included going through the obstacle courses, spending time with drill instructors, being welcomed in the Brigadier General’s home and learning from the inside what the Marine Corps is truly about.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience that gave me a deeper appreciation for our military,” Marchese said. “It also gave me the realization that the military is not a ‘Plan B’ and has many different avenues ready to be explored.”
According to the Marine Corps, the Educator Workshop program was established to enable selected educators to gain firsthand knowledge of Marine.
