Spotlight on New Faculty

Four faculty members joined the Community School team in fall 2022: Phoebe Mendelson (4 North), Kat Mowczko (School Librarian), Madeline Wilder (Fifth Grade), and Mark Yu (Senior Kindergarten West). Learn more about their backgrounds and first-year highlights below.

What inspired you to teach your current grade or subject area?

Kat: Five years ago I was working in a role that included running my school’s library. When I realized that my favorite parts of my day were the times in the library, I decided to go back to school to earn my MLIS (Master in Library and Information Science) degree. I finished my degree in 2022 and was excited to have the opportunity to come to Community and to be in the library full time!

Phoebe: I have always loved to express myself through writing, so it is a fitting spot for me on the fourth grade team. I love all ages, but fourth grade is so special because they grow so much over the course of the year and we send them off to be independent humans in the leadership wing.

Madeline: Teaching Fifth Grade writing is my absolute dream job! Fifth grade writers are so fun to work with because they are full of strong opinions, creative ideas, and a willingness to trust the process!

Mark: I actually never thought I would teach kindergarten. I always saw myself teaching upper elementary and was intimidated by the littles, but at Korea International School, I was offered a kindergarten position and after a few years, realized how fun it was and was told by many that I was pretty good at it. The rest is history! I love being a kindergarten teacher.

Share a highlight of your first year at Community.

Get to know Community’s newest faculty

members and their thoughts about the school after their first year here.

kindergarteners check out their first books, it’s been so rewarding to see their reading skills and interests grow and change over the year.

Phoebe: I am so lucky to be part of an amazing team, and I am especially thankful for my homeroom partner, Megan Futhey. She has been a fantastic role model and we have grown our partnership into something beautiful! Any time we laugh with our fourth-northerners, which is often, is my highlight.

Madeline: The highlight of my first year at Community was the spontaneous Taylor Swift dance party my students and I had as a brain break during ERB week.

Mark: A huge highlight was being able to read a story by Korean-American author, Julie Kim, to my niece’s classes for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month.

Share a goal for next year.

Kat: I’m really excited to work on getting the nonfiction section of our library ready to be a great companion to the Broughton STEAM Center.

Phoebe: One of my goals for next year is to work with and get feedback from Madeline, the fifth grade writing teacher, based on areas of growth that she identifies with the incoming class.

Madeline: A goal I have for next year is to create more opportunities for students to share amongst peers the growth they make as writers.

Kat: I’ve had so much fun getting to know all of the kids this year through books we’ve shared. From building book boxes for Upper Division students to helping senior

Mark: One goal I have for next year is to explicitly teach vocabulary to help our students expand their expressive vocabulary, such as any words that you use very with: Very kind (amicable), very mad (frustrated), very fun (enjoyable). A high level of vocabulary is one of the indicators of students becoming successful readers.

Why work at Community?

Kat: I chose Community because it’s a community! I love the culture of support and care that is here for every child and staff member.

Phoebe: My mom recently visited, and she put it best: “When you walk into this school, it feels like a good place to be.” The faculty and kids have such a love for learning that it overflows into every aspect of the school, and I’m happy to be part of that energy.

Madeline: Community School fosters an environment that attracts students and teachers that view learning as a lifelong journey. This community is whole-heartedly invested in embracing each individual and lifting each other up!

Mark: One should work at Community because it is student-centered, strong in differentiation to meet all students’ needs, and is such a wonderful place to be!

What are your hobbies outside of school?

Kat: I love to bake – this year I have been working on perfecting croissants. I run or walk almost every day. My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my husband and our dog and cat. I’m also almost always reading – either a print book or an audiobook!

Phoebe: I love watching my backyard birds, tending to my plants, and spending time with those dear to me. I enjoy playing tennis and soccer, as well as walking in nature looking for neat wildlife!

Madeline: I love to travel, cook, sail, and snowboard.

Mark: My wife and I love to hike, walk our dogs, Sally and Coco, and try new restaurants. We also love music. She plays the violin, viola, and piano and I play the guitar, drums, and piano. I love to sing as well! We also have been to (combined) over 10 countries supporting and serving local schools, churches, and communities.