2022 AMP Faces of Arkansas
2022 Face of Private School: Episcopal Collegiate School
Catherine Radtke, Associate Head of Lower School/Director Of Student Support Services
Who or what has been a source of inspiration for you?
The teachers I interact with on a daily basis are a constant source of inspiration for me. I have worked in a number of independent schools, and without a doubt, this faculty is the most collegial and adaptive group I have ever worked with. I am always amazed at how well they know students and how willing they are to meet the needs of all types of learners, both with extra support and with enrichment.
Have you ever been mentored or mentored someone else? If you had a piece of advice for someone looking to follow your career path, what would that advice be?
For someone interested in following this career path, I would emphasize that this role requires the ability to listen to and advocate for students and families. At the same time, supporting students means knowing teachers well and understanding their class expectations. Being successful in this role is all about connection.
You must know students well and see them as three dimensional. Students who face learning challenges are more than a diagnosis or learning profile. They have incredible strengths that can be leveraged to their benefit. When we work with students, we embrace this idea of neurodiversity.
What are you responsible for at your organization? What do those responsibilities include day to day?
In my role as director of student support services, I oversee support across all three divisions at Episcopal. I collaborate with reading and math specialists, learning specialists and counselors to ensure that students are supported academically as well as socially and emotionally. One of the things I love about my job is that things look different on any given day. I might be analyzing reading data on first graders in the morning and then working with an upper school student on time management in the afternoon. I love that this job requires agility and flexibility. Those are skills that we are trying to teach our students as well.
Are there any accomplishments or areas that you and your team have been working on that you are excited about and why?
The past two years have been challenging for students, both academically and emotionally. I am excited that we are examining trends and adjusting to meet the demands for student support. We have expanded our learning services with a dedicated Upper School Academic Achievement Center. We are also adding an additional counselor to expand our wellness services for students. We are in the beginning stages of a Resilience Project that will be student led and include a blog for students to submit narratives about challenges they have faced and overcome. Our hope is that our community hears the message that all of us, faculty included, have sometimes struggled or failed but we have learned important strategies along the way that can be beneficial to others.
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