Margaret Kelly Carroll, 1956-2024
Margaret Kelly Carroll of Blue Island, Illinois, a teacher, teacher educator, and advocate for students with learning disabilities and their families and educators, passed away 20 December 2024. Known as “Meg” to her family and co-workers, Professor Carroll spent most of her career at St. Xavier University and worked with many schools in the greater Chicago area.
Professor Carroll’s friend and colleague, Professor Bev Johns remembered her “as a bright light we rarely experience, the best teacher many had ever had and many wanted to be just like her. She was always a popular speaker wherever she went. Meg was the epitome of a special education advocate who gave all she could to better the lives of our students.” Remembrances by former students and others reflect admiration and appreciation.
Professor Carroll was a faculty member of the Education Division in the College of Liberal Arts and Education at St. Xavier University in Chicago for almost 40 years. Previously she had taught at schools in Normal, Calumet City, and Chicago and at Chicago State University (all in Illinois). She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Illinois in 1977, a master’s in learning disabilities at Chicago State University in 1981, and an doctorate in education at Loyola University of Chicago in 1985.
Professor Carroll was active in the Learning Disabilities Association of America for many years as well as the Illinois Council for Children with Behavior Disorders. At the time of her passing, she was the immediate past president of LDA Illinois She was a frequent speaker at schools and conferences. She was often recognized for voluntary service to the special education community, including receiving the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division’s Excellence in Teaching Award and LDA’s Sam Kirk Educator of the Year Award. She also served on the Illinois State Board of Education in the 1980s and was active in support of independent facilities for individuals with disabilities.
Over the course of her career Professor Carroll authored dozens of professional publications. Her written contributions focused on supporting parents (e.g., the book, What Did You Do at School Today? A Guide to Schooling and School Success and providing practical guidance for teacher (e.g., “Teaching Explicit Strategies for Mathematics Learning”).
Professor Carroll was born 6 September 1956, the eldest child of Eva Mary (nee Staudenmeyer) and Walter John Kelly. Meg’s father and one brother passed away before she did. She is survived by her mother, Eva, and four siblings as well as her children, Dan, Hannah, and Tim. The family published an obituary and remembrances on a funeral home’s site and an obituary in the Chicago Tribune 31 December 2024.
Nice tribute. RIP.