Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

120 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine M aria Farese Rendine always had a love for learning, and armed with her mother’s encouragement, she sought out teaching professionally. Ms. Rendine’smother frequently advised, “The one thing that can never be taken away from you is your education.” In 1967, Ms. Rendine graduated fromMontclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts. She also completed postgraduate coursework at Wright State University, the University of Virginia and George Mason University. Ms. Rendine holds certifications to teach in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia. Ms. Rendine began her career as a teacher with the Bibb County Schools in Macon, Georgia. In 1975, she servedWayne Township Schools in Dayton, Ohio, as a teacher of English and speech and as English department chair. From 1982 to 2001, Ms. Rendinewas an English, drama, speech and photojournalism teacher at the Fairfax County Public Schools. She was promoted to chair of the department of fine arts in 1999, and in 2001, she became a theater arts mentor. Moving from secondary education to the collegiate level, Ms. Rendine became a career switch mentor at Old Dominion University in 2005. Ms. Rendine has found great reward in teaching, as she has helped mentor students struggling to find their path. One student called Ms. Rendine after his graduation to thank her for her advice that he join the armed forces, and another student thanked Ms. Rendine for saving her during a dark period of her life. Outside of her teaching, Ms. Rendine is a writer and poet of numerous works, including the play “Souls on a Half Shell.” In 2006, Ms. Rendine was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award from the International Society of Poets and the Editor’s Choice Award from International Library of Poetry in 2004. In 1989, the American Poetry Association named her a Poet of Merit. Ms. Rendine is a past member of the Education Theatre Association, the Journalism Education Association, the Virginia Association of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of English and the Air Force Officers Wives Club. MARIA FARESE RENDINE SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATOR (RETIRED) Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax, VA EDUCATION