For Carol Gilliland, Meridian is more than the place where she works. It is the place where her story began. A graduate of Meridian’s Class of 1988, Carol felt school was always a place where she felt comfortable, supported, and encouraged. Education was also part of her home life. Her mother, Jerri Thurston, taught sixth grade at Meridian for more than 30 years, giving Carol an early example of what it meant to dedicate your life to helping students. “I am a Bobcat, and I am very proud of that,” Carol said.

Even as a child, she imagined herself standing at the front of a classroom. She remembers playing school with friends and always wanting to be the teacher. That dream stayed with her, but like many meaningful journeys, it didn’t happen overnight.

After graduating from Shawnee Community College, Carol focused on building her family. She married and began raising her children. Still, the desire to become a teacher never left her. One day, after hearing someone suggest she might not return to school, she made a decision that would change everything. She drove to Southern Illinois University and enrolled. “I didn’t mean to come back with a student ID and a schedule,” she said. “But I did.”

Returning to college meant long days and even longer drives. She traveled nearly 100 miles each day while balancing family responsibilities and financial challenges. It required determination and sacrifice, but Carol never gave up. “We were so poor, but we did it,” she said. “I am a very hard worker and a very hard-headed person.”

Her perseverance paid off. In 1995, she began teaching at Meridian, working with students who needed extra help in reading and math. From the very beginning, she found purpose in helping students overcome obstacles and discover their abilities.

Over the years, her career took her to different classrooms and even different districts. She taught third grade, worked with the Regional Office of Education, and gained experience in a variety of educational settings. But Meridian always remained close to her heart.

In 2014, she returned to the district, once again becoming part of the school community that had shaped her life. Her journey didn’t stop there. Wanting to better serve students with unique learning needs, she returned to college once again and earned her master’s degree in special education in 2022.

Today, Carol works with kindergarten through second-grade students, helping them build the foundational skills that will support their future learning. Her classroom is a place where students are given time, patience, and encouragement as they grow.

She understands that learning begins with small steps—recognizing letters, understanding sounds, and building confidence.

Her work requires flexibility and creativity. Every student learns differently, and Carol meets each one where they are. She celebrates progress, no matter how small, knowing those early successes can shape how students see themselves.

She is quick to acknowledge that teaching is never done alone. She works closely with her classroom aide, Wilma Houston, and values the partnership they share. “You can’t do it alone,” Carol said. “You have to lean on people.”

That belief reflects how she sees Meridian as a whole. To her, it has always been more than a workplace. It is home.

She lives just two miles from the school, and her roots in the community run deep. Her two sons have grown into successful adults working in healthcare, and she now enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, who brings new joy and perspective to her life.

After decades in education, Carol remains grateful for the opportunity to do the work she once dreamed about as a child. “I love the atmosphere,” she said. “And my hope is that it continues to move forward in the way it is going now.”

For Carol Gilliland, Meridian has been part of every chapter of her life—as a student, a daughter, a mother, and a teacher.