Women’s History Month: Honoring the Women Who Carry Us

Every March, during Women's History Month, we celebrate women who have shaped our communities, our culture, and our future. We often think about famous names and historic figures, but some of the most powerful examples of leadership and impact happen quietly — every single day. For me, one of those women is my mom, Marchelle Kay Hall Owens.


My mom was born in Richmond, Indiana, but her life’s work has deeply impacted generations of students through her career with Cincinnati Public Schools. For more than 30 years, she has been a teacher but honestly, that word barely scratches the surface of what she does.
To her students, she’s far more than someone standing at the front of a classroom.


She pours her entire heart into the children she teaches. I’ve watched her treat her students like they were her own kids  because in many ways, they are. Teaching for my mom has never been “just a job.” It’s a calling. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility she takes personally.
My mom has spent countless hours after the school bell rings, staying late to make sure her students understand their lessons, helping them finish assignments, or simply giving them a safe place to be. While many people head home when the school day ends, she’s often still there — long after the hallways have quieted. And it doesn’t stop there.


She has spent her own money on classroom materials, supplies, and resources because she believes her students deserve the best learning environment possible. She has cooked meals and brought food into the classroom because she knows that sometimes learning is easier when a child feels cared for and supported.


Even during school breaks, when many teachers finally get a moment to step away, my mom will still go into her classroom organizing, preparing, and making sure everything is ready for the next group of students who walk through her door. That’s the kind of dedication you can’t teach in a training program. That’s heart.


My mom quietly gives back in ways that most people will never see. She doesn’t do it for recognition or praise. In fact, if I told her I was writing about her like this, she’d probably tell me I’m doing too much. I think women like her deserve to be celebrated. Over the past year, I’ve also had the blessing of being closer to my mom in a different way. After losing my dad, I went and stayed with her for a while. Grief has a way of bringing life into sharp focus, and during that time I was able to watch her navigate loss with a level of resilience, courage, and vulnerability that deeply moved me.


Even in the middle of heartbreak, she carried herself with grace. Watching her move through that season reminded me of the quiet strength she has always had. The same strength that shows up in her classroom. The same compassion she pours into her students. The same love she gives to her family and community. My mom is a boss behind the scenes in every sense of the word. She leads with care. She shows up consistently. She makes an impact without needing the spotlight.


As I reflect during Women’s History Month, I realize that history isn’t only written by women on stages or in headlines. It’s also written in classrooms, in small acts of kindness, and in the lives of students who will grow up remembering the teacher who believed in them.
For more than three decades, my mom has been writing that kind of history every day.