Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight: Susan (Meyer) Scott ’96

Rooted in Quincy and Community, Living It Forward

By: Katie Rodemich ’02, Freelance Writer

Growing up in Quincy, Susan (Meyer) Scott was already being shaped for a life in education and community leadership—through Quincy Public Schools, close-knit friendships, and the steady influence of her parents. 

Long before classrooms, performances, and traditions, her path was already taking shape—at home.

As the daughter of Dr. George C. Meyer and Mary Nell Meyer—two longtime Quincy educators—she grew up in a household where service, learning, and community were not just encouraged, but modeled. Education wasn’t simply a profession; it was a way of life rooted in showing up, giving back, and investing in others.

“I am a product of a die-hard QHS public school family. Both of my parents were educators in the community public school system,” she says.

Her father spent more than three decades in Quincy Public Schools—as a teacher, coach, administrator, and superintendent—before beginning a second career at Quincy University as a professor and dean in the School of Education.

Her mother began teaching eighth-grade English and U.S. history at Quincy Junior High School in 1963 and later returned as a homebound coordinator through Blessing and St. Mary hospitals, helping students continue their education during times of illness. She remained deeply connected to her students and community, both inside and outside the classroom.

Both parents stayed actively involved in the Quincy community—supporting schools, volunteering, and mentoring long after their formal careers. While her mother’s legacy endures, her father continues that work today.

For Susan, that example wasn’t something she was told—it was something modeled every day.

“Some of my basic foundation in life… that have propelled me to find myself working in schools as an adult came from my parents. They were all about the public schools and the support—whether it be financially, time, talent, treasures—they always wanted to be embedded in their community and to improve their community from within.”

As she moved through Quincy Public Schools, those same values were reinforced by mentors—educators, directors, and coaches—who extended what began at home into every corner of her high school experience.

In many ways, what she learned at home was deepened by the people she encountered at school. At QHS, learning extended beyond the classroom, grounded in expectation, encouragement, and a steady belief in each student’s potential.

Librarian and English teacher Beth Young made a lasting impression.

“Beth Young was amazing. I remember reading Dante’s Inferno in her class and being intimidated by her syllabus. She has continued to be a good family friend of ours, and our relationship has evolved over time. I still admire and look up to her so much and all that she does now for the Historical Society in Quincy. Even well beyond her time in public education, she continues to give back to the Quincy community in so many different ways.”

That evolution—from student to lifelong connection—is something uniquely Quincy. Teachers don’t disappear after graduation; they remain part of your story.

And Beth Young was one of many.

“Obviously Kathi Dooley, former Director of Music, Dan Sherman, former director of choir, and Clyde Bassett, former director of orchestra… I adored him.”

Together, they created an environment where students were encouraged to step in, try something new, and push beyond their comfort zones—where participation was expected and growth was supported.

High school life, she says, was everything she had hoped for and more.

“I was not only in A Building as a musician, a dancer and a performer, but I was also a cheerleader,” she says. “I loved having friends from all different backgrounds, different groups, and even different grade levels.”

She first took the QHS stage in The King and I in fifth grade and then in high school was in South Pacific, 42nd Street, and Anything Goes, the many musical productions that defined her time at QHS.

Even after graduation, that connection never left. As a college freshman, she returned to Quincy—drawn back by pride and deep-rooted Blue Devil tradition. The following season, she came again to support QHS’s production of Hello, Dolly!, this time as a supporter.

From that perspective, she saw it differently. What once felt routine as a student now revealed itself as something rare—an environment rich in tradition, talent, and opportunity.

Dance, in particular, was a constant. Between QHS and Kathy Burnett Dance Center, her school and studio worlds blended seamlessly, creating a rhythm that defined her time. She balanced dance, cheerleading, theater, and violin—moving through seasons, performances, and competitions while learning to manage it all and stay fully engaged.

“Kathy Burnett helped choreograph musicals—especially the big tap numbers—while Kathi Dooley handled some of the pieces as well. We did 42nd Street… and that really blended all of my worlds—my time at the dance studio and my time at QHS.”

That realization extended beyond the stage.

The Blue Devil spirit and the sense of community surrounding it—left a lasting impression. She grew up in that energy, attending games from a young age and only later recognizing how distinctive it was. Packed gyms, generations of students and families, and a shared sense of pride define the experience—it’s never just about the game or performance, but about belonging to something bigger, a tradition sustained by dedicated educators and those behind the scenes, ensuring that same pride, connection, and excellence for each new generation.

After graduation, she carried that same rhythm to Millikin University in Decatur—an institution known for its strong musical theater program—where she earned a degree in Communication with an emphasis in public relations, along with a minor in dance.

“While I didn’t study musical theater, I stayed involved—continued dance, did some black box shows… kind of stuck with what I loved in high school.”

Millikin also offered a sense of familiarity.

“There were a couple other QHS students there, including Jay Schluppenbach… we had already done musicals together, so that was special.”

Today, Susan serves as Parent Involvement Coordinator and webmaster at Thomas Jefferson Middle School—overseeing communications, social media, and connection with families. It’s a role that reflects her parents’ values and places her at the center of community life—just as Quincy taught her to be.

“I work at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. I’m a parent involvement coordinator, serving as webmaster, and running all of our social media. I truly enjoy my job. While I’m not a certified, licensed teacher—I have always found myself in schools, and I credit that to my parents. I took that from Quincy, so I always find myself there, whether it’s volunteering or now being employed.”

That connection to students extends beyond the classroom through Education First tours—immersive travel experiences that bring learning to life. What began with a trip to Greece quickly became something more for both her and the students she leads.

She has come to see middle school as a uniquely powerful window for these experiences—an age where students are gaining independence while still open and eager to engage. It’s a balance she recognizes because she once lived it. Leading these trips often brings her back to her own eighth-grade experiences at Quincy Junior High—moments that helped shape how she sees the world.

That perspective guides the trips she leads. She has traveled with students to Switzerland and France, with Belize ahead and plans for Australia and New Zealand in June 2026—each designed to broaden students’ understanding of the world and their place in it.

With groups of about 20 students, she sees these experiences as more than trips—they are an extension of education. Through new cultures and shared moments, students gain perspective, confidence, and connection.

When asked what advice she would offer students, her response comes quickly: step away from the screen and engage.

While technology offers connection, she believes it can’t replace the depth of in-person relationships. Growing up in the mid-1990s, she sees the absence of constant technology as a gift—one that required effort, presence, and real connection.

Today, thatperspective shapes how she views the world her children are navigating. While technology can connect, she believes it can also isolate—making in-person interaction more important than ever. She’s encouraged to see schools beginning to rebalance, creating more space for those connections to grow.

She sees high school as a rare window of opportunity—a time to explore, take risks, and step outside your comfort zone.

“If you’re interested at all in something, just do it. Just try it… The worst they can tell you is no, which doesn’t happen at QHS, because they’re going to find something and be involved somehow. Because really, life doesn’t afford you that flexibility beyond… high school is a great, safe time.”

Her words reflect a defining part of the QHS experience—where curiosity is encouraged, participation is expected, and students are supported in finding their place.

“I always go back to my memories from high school—good or bad, we were always involved in something… whether it was music, or sports—you build those bonds.”

After college, her life unfolded through a series of moves shaped by opportunity and family. What began in Chicago—and soon after in Atlanta, where her husband had secured a position—quickly became a journey that would take them across the south.

They spent 12 years in Inman, South Carolina, just outside of Spartanburg, where they raised their three children—William, Colin, and Elizabeth—before eventually settling in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a place they have now called home for a decade.

Today, each of their children is stepping into a new chapter: William is a junior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Colin is a sophomore at Appalachian State University, and Elizabeth is a junior at Mount Tabor High School.

“We love Winston,” she says. “It’s got a great art scene… a very eclectic community. There is Wake Forest University, and a huge medical community, so there are people from all over the world coming and going… it’s just a really diverse place to live.”

In their own home, Susan has carried forward the values she was raised with—showing up, staying involved, and investing in the community around her. It’s something she has intentionally passed on to her children, encouraging them to engage, build connections, and understand the value of being part of something bigger than themselves.

Coming back to Quincy feels like stepping into something that never really left. Even from a distance, it has always felt like home. Over time, that connection has only deepened. As her parents have aged, the distance has become more difficult, reinforcing just how meaningful that kind of support truly is.

“I’m so grateful to Quincy, because they always have taken care of my parents. People everywhere have looked out for my mom and dad… people text me all the time—at basketball games, helping dad get to his seat, whatever that is. There are so many wonderful people who continue helping at every stage of life.” 

That pull toward home isn’t just about place—it’s about belonging and community.

“I always feel so blessed that I truly have a place to hang my proverbial hat, and that has always been Quincy. Not everyone has that.”

And somehow, no matter where life takes her, Quincy seems to follow.

“My husband jokes all the time that Quincy is the center of the universe, because everywhere we go, we run into someone from Quincy. I’ve been in Mexico and ran into someone from Quincy… my brother was in Pennsylvania, and someone sat down next to him who had a Quincy connection. It just happens all the time.”

It’s more than coincidence—it’s connection—a shared history and lasting sense of pride that extends far beyond city limits. For her, it remains constant—a reminder that even while building a life elsewhere, Quincy is never really left behind.

“That’s the beauty about Quincy too… it’s very community-based,” she says. “Because it is one public school district, and everyone is working for a common goal. The belief in education has always been so strong. You don’t find that in many places now… It’s a very unique thing. I think most people don’t recognize how special it is until you leave… and then you reflect and think—oh wow, that was an amazing way to grow up… we had—we have—something special.”

This summer, Susan will return for her Quincy High School Class of 1996 30-year reunion, scheduled for July 24–25, reconnecting with classmates who shared those formative years. Time and distance may have changed the details of their lives, but the foundation remains—built in classrooms, on stages, in gymnasiums, and in everyday moments that once felt routine.

The weekend will unfold over a couple of days, offering space to reconnect in familiar ways—from a relaxed Friday evening gathering in Washington Park, often filled with the energy of Blues in the District, to a Saturday night celebration at The Dock, where classmates will gather for Fatbacks and conversation. Just steps away, Blues Traveler will be performing at Lincoln Park, adding an unexpected layer of excitement. Visit their reunion website and get your tickets for the various events:  www.qhs-class-96.com. 

Like many reunions, it’s less about a single event and more about easing back into conversation, revisiting familiar places, and picking up right where they left off. Classmates are encouraged to join the QHS Class of 1996 alumni Facebook group to stay connected and follow updates.

In many ways, her story comes full circle—not by returning to where it began, but by carrying it forward. The roots planted early on continue to shape the life she’s built and the way she shows up for others. And in that way, Quincy is never really left behind.

Help us DREAM BIG for Quincy Public Schools!

Donate to the 1996 Class Circle
Class of 1996 Reunion Information
Donate to the Dr. George & Mary Nell Meyer Fund for QHS Alumni Relations
QPS Educator & Staff Spotlight: Dr. George Meyer
Learn more about the QHS Alumni Association
Ways to Support the QPS Foundation

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