Kathy Stenger
Program Director Humanities |
In 2011 Kathy was thrilled to discover Village Gate for her three children, Jake, Emma, and Genevieve. They thrived in their first year and the whole family became active members of the community. In 2012 Kathy joined the staff of Village Gate to participate in the exciting endeavor of creating a new middle school with three intrepid seventh grade students. Developing the program has been an adventure full of rewards and challenges. Kathy is committed to challenging her students intellectually and to mentoring them socially and emotionally through the journey that is adolescence.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Boston College, Kathy has enjoyed a rich and diverse background in education that includes earning a masters degree in art history from UCLA; establishing a Latin program at La Jolla Country Day School; teaching English literature to eighth and tenth graders at The Bishop’s School; lecturing on European and Islamic art and architecture at UCSD Extension; and tutoring middle and high school students in all subjects. No matter the subject, Kathy aims to inspire students to engage with the world, to make meaning out of its chaos, and to discover ways to contribute to its beauty. |
Caitlin Shindler
Science and Math |
Caitlin is a graduate of MIT with several years of teaching experience in both formal and informal settings. She has worked as a science and math teacher at a private middle school and high school for four years before coming to Village Gate in 2014. Prior to teaching in schools, Caitlin worked as a science educator at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center where she taught just about every kind of science to children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Throughout her years of teaching, she has found the mentoring relationships she has developed with her students to be the most rewarding. For three years, Caitlin served as an adviser and mentor for several after school science clubs for girls. As a result of Caitlin’s guidance and support, many of the girls continued in the clubs for multiple years. Being a part of their journey as they went from shy fourth graders to confident sixth graders was a true joy. In her previous teaching position, all classes were conducted on a one teacher to one student basis which she enjoyed because it allowed her to truly know her students and develop strong mentoring relationships with her students. In addition to her teaching experience, she created and evaluated curriculum for multiple programs at the Fleet Science Center including; the young scientists program, school workshops, after school science clubs and summer camps. Caitlin is absolutely passionate about developing programs and activities that engage learners and develop critical thinking.
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