Although careers in education were a staple in Kathryn’s family, she was adamant she wasn’t going to be a teacher. But now in her first year at Tointon Academy in Greeley, Kathryn can’t imagine not teaching. “It’s very fulfilling. I love being able to have a positive impact on students’ lives,” she said about teaching.
A Greeley native, Kathryn went to Chappelow and graduated from Greeley West. She attended UNC and started as a sports and exercise science major, intending to become a physical therapist. However, her experience interning and working in healthcare (during the pandemic) lead her to consider a different school and career path.
Kathryn had some amazing history teachers who encouraged her to consider teaching as a profession. After graduating from UNC in 2024, Kathryn joined her former 7th grade teacher on the teaching team at Tointon, where she teaches Social Studies. “She is now my team lead and mentor, so it’s really come full circle,” Kathryn said.
Bright Futures was an important part of Kathryn’s college career. She loved the community service aspect of the program, and she volunteered numerous hours with High Plains Young Chautauqua, a beloved program she had been involved with growing up. Bright Futures also helped Kathryn financially. “Going to UNC made the most financial sense. I had the goal to get out of school debt-free, and Bright Futures was huge in terms of making that happen,” she said.
