Class of 1969 | Greenfield High School
Influential. Mentor. Advocate. Leader. The list of positive attributes goes on as the people who have crossed paths with Marciann McClarnon Miller describe the impact she has had on their lives. Says her nominator Karry Book, “Marciann is constantly thinking of others.” She notes that all of Marciann’s life she has looked for ways to affirm and impact others.
A member of the last graduating class of Greenfield High School in 1969, Marciann always knew she wanted to be a teacher. “As the oldest of 5 children”, says Marciann, “I had lots of early practice.” She received a BS and MS with Distinction in Education from Indiana University and began her teaching career at old Riley School. A beloved teacher, Marciann pushed her students to be their best. She was named “Most Influential Teacher” by her G-CCSC students five times. Marciann says, “These awards mean so much to me because they were from my students.” She was also nominated twice for the WTHR Shining Star Award and received the Indiana Humanities Council Outstanding Achievement in Teaching in 1992.
Marciann’s work with the Future Problem-Solving Program also resulted in accolades and encouraging results. She was an Indiana Academic Coach for the Greenfield-Central Junior High and High School program and was recognized twice on the floor of the Indiana Senate for excellence in teaching. She was also an academic coach of an Indiana Community Problem-Solving Team from Weston Elementary that won first place in Indiana for their idea – Regreening Greenfield. Says Marciann, “That ‘kid’ idea developed into a non-profit that survives today and has planted thousands of trees in Greenfield.”
Marciann has been esteemed beyond the classroom as well. Her family’s roots in the Hancock County community run deep. It is no surprise that she has jumped in with both feet to find ways to improve the lives of those around her. Her list of accomplishments and involvement is extensive. In addition to her work to establish the Regreening Greenfield program (she is still a board member), she received the 1986 Greenfield Historic Landmark Preservation Award and the East Central Indiana CASA Volunteer of the Year in 2017. She was a founding board member and treasurer of the Hancock County Community Foundation and of the Advisory Board for Zoey’s Place – a child advocacy center. In 2022, she was awarded the Superhero honor from Zoey’s Place for her work in advocating for abused and neglected children. She has also served as a third-generation past president of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, member of the board of directors for Greenfield Historic Landmarks, member of the Brandywine Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a past Commissioner of the Hancock County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Her significant contributions to her community and state resulted in the Sagamore of the Wabash honor in 1998.
Somewhere along the way, Marciann found the time to be a published author from Barons Publishing and also self-publish twelve books.
Following retirement from teaching, Marciann became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in 2016. Karry Book noted Marciann’s continued impact on the youth of Hancock County, “even if it means traveling a great distance to ensure their safety and well-being. She has enhanced the court process for CASAs in Hancock County.” In 2020, she became the inaugural Director of the Hancock County CASA Program and the founding Executive Director of Hancock County Friends of CASA, Inc. She retired in 2022 but continues in her role with the Friends of CASA. In her two years as Director, over 200 Hancock County children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect were served by the program.
Marciann loves to run into her past students and hear about what they are doing. As she looks back on her experiences in her schools and her community, she is grateful. “I was fortunate to teach in Greenfield for 37 years. Steve Burt gave me my chance in 1976, hiring me to teach 4th grade at old Riley school – the same building where my grandfather graduated from high school in 1923 and my mother had attended grade school and my siblings, and I had attended grade school. Talk about great karma!” She also appreciates the teachers who helped mold and guide her. Betty McCleerey, her favorite 3rd grader teacher at Brandywine Elementary, taught her cursive and an early love of reading. “Her kind and gentle ways made such an impact on me,” says Marciann. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher just like her.” Other favorite teachers included Richard Greenland who introduced her to all kinds of music – especially classical, Vickie McBernie who taught her an appreciation for classic literature, and John Cline who instilled in her the ability to stand up for her beliefs when he modeled for the entire class how to right a wrong without fear of the consequences.
Marciann feels very blessed to be married to the love of her life, Tom Miller. Together they have 6 terrific children and 12 amazing grandchildren who are a source of great pride to them each and every day. Says Marciann, “My entire life, God has blessed me with a wonderful family, good friends, a great education, and opportunities to give back to our amazing community. I am extremely proud to join the exceptional group of servant leaders who are members of the GC Alumni Hall of Fame, which includes my father. It is a great honor that touches my heart. Thank you!”
Thank you, Marciann, for sharing and living your passions and compassion with all of us!