Karen Raidt: Living With Purpose

Over the past three decades, Karen Raidt and her family have been an integral part of the King School community.

Shortly after Karen O’Keeffe arrived in 1993, she met her husband, John Raidt, at King. They married, and their two sons, Patrick, born in 2001, and James, born in 2005, became King “lifers,” beginning as infants in the faculty day care.

As her family grew, so did her career at King. She began as a Grade 2 teacher, then transitioned into a series of leadership roles, including Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of Lower School and now, Assistant Director of Global Education and Director of King Cares Service and Student Services. With each transition building on the last, her life’s purpose deepened.

“In my progression from classroom teacher to where I am now,” said Raidt, “I gained different perspectives and felt so fortunate to see what amazing things my colleagues were doing in other areas. I have had a wonderful bird’s-eye view of the interconnectedness of the many different offices, departments, and grade levels, and have learned so much along the way.”

Before King, Raidt had been on track to become a pediatrician when a discussion with her college advisor led to a stint in a grade school classroom. That changed everything. She pivoted to education and joined King shortly after graduating from Williams College and the Manhattanville College Master of Arts in Teaching Program.

“So much of my trajectory has been serendipitous,” she said, adding that she had advanced through conversations with people she admired.

“We tell students to take risks, to step out of their comfort zone, and I realized I needed to do that as well ”

—Karen Raidt

“The first person I met at King was Sue Cesare,” Raidt said, referring to the Head of School at the time, who is a 1948 LowHeywood alumna. “How she talked about academic excellence made me realize how much I could grow professionally, but it was how she spoke about the culture and the community that was so exciting to me.”

In her first three weeks, she met John in the lower school courtyard outside her classroom, where he was waiting for a friend, a King parent. That moment began the Raidt family story at King.

They were married in 1996 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Several guests came from King, including teachers Sue Laramie and Ellen Eagleton, who both marked 30 years at the school in 2022.

As she gained experience teaching, Raidt developed a deep appreciation for her colleagues’ expertise and broad range of perspectives. This inspired her to explore new areas of interest.

“I knew from working with the lower school learning specialist that it was something I wanted to learn more about,” Raidt said. “With her advice, I took additional classes here and there, learning techniques and approaches, which I found fascinating.”

In 2005, King restructured, creating a position that is known today as Director of Teaching and Learning. Raidt was just home from the hospital after giving birth to James when Head of School Tom Main called to offer her the position. With two young children and having never been a director, Raidt was tentative.

“We tell students to take risks, to step out of their comfort zone,” she said, “and I realized I needed to do that as well.”

Raidt accepted the job and, for the first time in 12 years, she worked in an office rather than a classroom. In her new role, she was assigned to PreK through Grade 3 and began to work with teachers on scope and sequencing skills, teaching approaches, and curriculum development. She also worked with students in small groups and one-on-one.

“I enjoyed teaming with colleagues in a different way and getting to know more students and families across the grade levels,” said Raidt, whose role was eventually expanded to include Grades 4 and 5.

Main, noting Raidt’s deep knowledge of the lower school programs, asked her to step in as Interim Head of Lower School in the fall of 2011. By the end of the academic year, it became a permanent position.

The lower school leadership role deepened her understanding of the administrative side of education and furthered her interest in the interconnectedness of the programs within and across divisions.

Seven years later, as the students who entered PreK at the start of her tenure moved up to Middle School, she took the role of Director of King Cares Service and Student Services and moved up to an office in Middle School, too.

“From the time I can remember, community engagement has always been a part of my life, so King Cares was a natural fit for me,” Raidt said, adding that outreach has always been part of the King culture.

In 2019, Raidt moved again, to an office in the Upper School, where she also serves as an advisor. She added the role of Assistant Director of Global Education last year.

“Karen’s passionate commitment to our community has been truly remarkable,” said Head of Upper School Marnie Sadlowsky, a colleague of Raidt’s for more than 25 years. “Under her leadership, the King Cares program has expanded and seamlessly integrated into our Global Education and Athletic programs. Karen collaborates with students to strengthen our community partnerships, creating a more connected and enriching experience for everyone at King School.”

“My best resources are always the colleagues I am working with and the students I am teaching,” Raidt said, crediting King’s professional growth and development opportunities with fostering collaboration and continuous learning. “The biggest thing you can do is support and celebrate colleagues who want to evolve into new roles, and King does a great job of that.”

Her belief in King extended to her children’s education.

“We had faith in the school,” Raidt said, “and knew the teachers would not only help the boys develop new skills, but would also get to know them and challenge them to step out of their comfort zone. As a teacher here, the people that I was working with sparked my desire to explore more and gave me the support to do it. I wanted my kids to have that same experience.”

King delivered, and both of Raidt’s sons connected with teachers and staff members who helped them discover strengths and interests.

James ’23 forged close ties with math teachers and took a psychology course that piqued an interest he is continuing to explore at Duke University. Patrick ’20 made connections in the Performing Arts Department, which began in Middle School when he worked as a member of the stage crew to support the productions.

When Raidt was still Head of Lower School, she and her husband attended the annual Winter Concert in the Performing Arts Center. As they sat in the audience, Raidt’s husband asked whether the concert was instrumental or chorale. She said instrumental.

Her husband, confused, said, “Patrick said he’s singing.”

“But Patrick doesn’t sing,” Raidt replied.

Just then, Patrick was introduced. He walked onstage alone with his guitar and delivered a striking rendition of “One More Light” by Linkin Park.

“We had no idea,” she said. “I was speechless. His performance was amazing, and we did not even know he sang.”

That moment was an affirmation.

“Even though we were not prepared for it,” she said, “we were confident that the many touchpoints King offers would yield that kind of exploration and self-discovery for our children.”

Patrick went on to earn a part in the upper school musical in his senior year. Though the beginning rehearsals conflicted with his football schedule, the faculty and staff worked together to allow him to do both. “That support and flexibility helped Patrick and James discover areas of interest they wanted to take further, and that discovery process makes all the difference,” Raidt said.

Patrick took his guitar to the College of the Holy Cross, and James plays Division I baseball at Duke, where he is enjoying classes and community outreach. As Raidt embarked on her

31st year at King, for the first time in 22 years she had no children at the school. Although her boys have graduated, she said she still has much to learn.

“I find so much joy in collaborating and working with others each and every day, and learn from all of those interactions,” she said. “We all begin with a career path. Mine certainly has evolved organically and developed from the meaningful connections I have made with others over the years.”