Teacher Feature- Katie Caswell

Katie Caswell, a 9th and 11th grade English teacher at Assumption High School, says the best thing about her job is working with students and seeing them grow. “I think that every student is valuable, every student has something to say.”

Katie has been with AHS for 17 years now and has been teaching for 20. She has been awarded the Catholic Education Foundation’s 2013 Dan Ulmer Teaching Award and has also received the 2013 Karen Russ Excellence in Teaching Award.

“Assumption has technologically grown so much in the last year. Our students have PC tablets and my classroom has become almost paperless… I love my smartboard! It’s become a way of teaching for me,” says Katie who believes that every classroom should be one of respect.

Katie says she is still learning how and wants to learn more about finding a way to engage every student at all times. When it comes to education’s biggest issue these days, she says “I think it depends on the school or school system. Schools need to adapt to the changes in society. Here, [at Assumption] I see it with technology.”

Katie also suggests that parents dealing with teenage kids keep an open mind and an open channel of communication. “An open mind and an open heart means listening as well as talking.” While she also reads along with her students, she just finished reading Sue Monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair and is now reading Mercy by Jodi Picoult. Katie also looks forward to creating more time to devote to writing with her students. “I’m always excited about changing my teaching style to fit my student’s needs.”

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