Several people nominated Kat this week- as many of you know, she had accepted an AP position at 17X, and her last day with us will be on Friday, February 14th.
Kat is one of the most organized, diligent, kind, and thoughtful people I've ever worked with- it's been lovely to watch her grow into a mentor and a leader. Congratulations and best wishes Kat!
Here's a farewell message from her:
To my Dearest P373K Family,
It’s hard to put into words just how much this school has meant to me. From the moment I walked through the doors in 2013 as a NYC Teaching Fellow—the only one hired that year to replace Josh Gottesman in our 6:1:1 class—I had no idea that I was about to embark on the most meaningful, transformative journey of my life. I didn’t even want to teach 6:1:1 at first, but it turned out to be the best decision I could have ever made.
I will forever be grateful to Mr. McGlone, who was teaching in Room 203 during my first year. After a rough first day, I stayed late to talk to him, and he told me something that has stuck with me ever since: "It’s good that you’re still smiling. It’s okay to not have perfect days or to not know everything. Just try to do a little bit better every day." I have taken that advice to heart, always striving to be a better version of myself. He also gave me an incredible morning meeting plan, which became the foundation for how I started my days that entire year. That small act of kindness set me on the right path, and I will always be thankful.
A Special thank you to Courtney — I don’t think I would be where I am today without Courtney’s support and belief in me. She has given me so many opportunities to grow, push myself, and become a leader. She trusted me, encouraged me, and always made sure I had the space to develop my skills. I will forever be grateful for her guidance, and I hope to make her proud as I take this next step.
To my mentor, Jeannine — Jeannine has been my mentor through all these years, guiding me, supporting me, and showing me what true leadership looks like. I hope that as I step into this next chapter, she will continue to be my unofficial mentor (because let’s be real, I’m still going to text her with a million questions).
This school has given me more than just professional experience—it has given me friendships that I will cherish forever. Some of my strongest relationships actually started out with a bit of animosity (looking at you, Maria Ladenheim, Jerome Gooden, and Shakiera Daniel!). But hey, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And I’m grateful that we were able to move past our differences and build real friendships. (Though I guess I just blew up my own spot by admitting that, huh? :P)
I have built so many strong connections here, and I am beyond thankful for every single person who has been part of my journey: Ms. Martell, Mr. Ron Celius, Nicole Hamilton, Andrew Chung, Brenton Bé, Rabia Ali, Maura Flanagan, Kate Fenton, Sheniese Thelem, Osvaldo Claudio, Chris Auriemma, Rabekah Pasquetti, Kimberly Crousset, Jasmine Fourquet, Richard, Mark Horosky, Brian Williams, Shawn Ferreyra, Andrew Morrison, Wayne Slater, Evan Sikoutris, and so, so many more.
And let’s not forget the real question, who is going to feed me now?! No more Hot Spoon lunches or Blue Moon breakfasts every day... how will I survive without my snack packs? :P
I also want to take a moment to say how incredibly proud I am of Nicole Hamilton and Jon Hunt, my Teaching Fellows and mentees. Watching you both grow into amazing educators has been one of the greatest joys of my time here.
To Mr. Claudio (turn up the audio) because I owe you more than you know. You gave me my first salsa class in 2015 and pointed me to Huracan, the salsa studio where I met my fiancé, Landi. Without you, my life would have taken a completely different path, and I will always be grateful for that.
To Ms. Martell — you are the keeper of all things. If you don’t have it, it doesn’t exist. From classroom supplies to lesson plans, to cups, to words of encouragement... you always have exactly what is needed at exactly the right time.
Of course, the biggest lessons always came from our students. They have taught me resilience, patience, and the power of small victories. Every student I have worked with has left an imprint on my heart, and they are the reason I have always strived to be better every day.
As I step into my new role as an assistant principal at P17X, I carry with me everything that I have learned at P373K. This school has shaped me, challenged me, and inspired me in ways I could never have imagined. I am beyond excited for this next step, but I want you all to know that this isn’t goodbye.
Even though I won’t be at P373K every day, who I am is not changing. I will always be here for you, and I hope we can build a strong partnership between P373K and P17X. I look forward to continuing the incredible work we do and finding ways for our schools to grow together.
P373K will always be my home, and no matter where I go, a part of me will always be here. This isn’t goodbye—just a new chapter, and I hope we continue writing this story together.
With gratitude, love, and a very full heart,
Kat
