Growing up along the Coal River, Kat spent much of her childhood exploring the outdoors and developing a deep appreciation for the plants, wildlife, and natural beauty of West Virginia. This lifelong connection to nature inspired her to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology with a split minor in Botany and Studio Arts in 2018.
Following college, Kat continued expanding her knowledge through Washington State’s Master Gardener Program and West Virginia’s Master Naturalist Program. Her previous work in educational horticulture allowed her to discover a passion for teaching while leading hands-on workshops that connected people with the natural world.
Since joining Charleston Montessori, Kat has embraced Maria Montessori’s philosophy of education and is committed to fostering children’s curiosity, independence, and respect for the environment. Her positive energy is contagious, and she enjoys weaving Montessori’s principles of stewardship and appreciation for the Earth into everyday learning experiences.
During her first year at Charleston Montessori, Kat partnered with the Lower Elementary students to cultivate, grow, harvest, and maintain a thriving garden filled with vegetables and native wildflowers. If you notice fresh wildflowers displayed throughout the school, there’s a good chance they were grown and lovingly harvested by those students. This school year, Kat is excited to expand these hands-on learning opportunities by introducing enhanced composting practices and hydroponic gardening into the Lower Elementary classroom.
Outside the classroom, Kat loves spending time with animals and taking every opportunity to be outdoors. On warm days, you may even find her floating down a West Virginia river with her cat and the people she loves, making the most of the state’s beautiful natural spaces.
In her time at Charleston Montessori, Kat feels she has grown tremendously—not only as an educator, but also as a person. She looks forward to continuing her Montessori journey while inspiring children to develop a lifelong love of learning and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, beauty, and harmony of the world.”
— Dr. Maria Montessori