Katie Hanin

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Communications
University of Washington

Why did you become an educator?
I became an educator to help build bonds within communities. As an ESL teacher in Rome, New York, and Seattle, my aim was to help my students connect to their world through language. As an instructional aide at Our Lady of Fatima, my goal is similar – I want to help our first graders learn and understand the value of our community and what it means to be a member of it. As an alumna of the school, I know firsthand how cherished the ties of this community are, since many of the relationships I formed in first grade are still significant to me now.

What is your favorite quote?
“That though the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from my sight. Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.” -William Wordsworth

What is your favorite book?
Choosing a favorite book is a near impossible task. However, when I do think about some of my favorites, I am immediately taken back in time to my seventh grade English classes at Fatima with Mrs. Dewberry. It was in her classroom that she led us on fictional journeys all over the country – from the fertile California valleys in Grapes of Wrath to the hot summer days in Maycomb, Alabama with Jem, Scout, and Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird – each book we read was both an adventure and a life lesson.

What I like most about teaching at OLF is…
Teaching at OLF will give me a chance to revisit my formative years and give back to the community that nurtured me.

Outside of school, I enjoy…
Outside of school, running, reading, and baking are some of my favorite pastimes.