Lasting legacies

Santa Catalina’s teachers are the heartbeat of our school. Caring, kind, creative, devoted, and expert in what they do, they influence and inspire their students in myriad ways, academically and personally. That’s especially true of three longtime teachers who retired at the end of the 2020–2021 school year. As we say a fond farewell to technology teacher Susan Kendall, coach Jim Morton, and kindergarten teacher Heather Medina, we invited them to reflect on their long and impactful careers.

Heather Medina

In her 42 years at Catalina, Heather went from teaching in a “play” kindergarten to developing one of the most well-regarded programs in the community. Through a balanced literacy approach, she developed kindergartners’ reading and writing skills so the children would be more than prepared for first grade and beyond. A flute player with a beautiful voice, she also loved teaching music to the kindergartners, who surprised her with a special retirement song during their 2021 graduation.

What is your favorite memory from Santa Catalina?

There are so many wonderful memories, I could never pick just one. . . . The most memorable graduation experience was in June 2020 when we hand-delivered graduation diplomas to each of our graduates at their homes. We drove in a caravan of cars with teacher Vanessa Krabacher in the lead. . . . We played music through the speakers in Lydia Mansour’s car as we arrived at each house. We sang to our kindergartners from a distance, and then Mrs. Pollacci ceremoniously handed them their diplomas. . . . We had not seen our students in person since March.

What made working at Catalina special?

The beauty and tranquility of the campus, with the chapel at its center, and the loving and vibrant community that is all of you. It has been a privilege to be at this exceptional school where all of the teachers, coaches, administrators, and staff have immense pride in their school, great respect for each other, and care about the future of Santa Catalina. I was blessed to have known Sister Carlotta, Sister Jean, Sister Christine, Sister Claire, and Sister Mary Ellen, and to have lived out my career in such a life-giving place.

What was your favorite part of teaching kindergarten?

My favorite part of teaching kindergarten was getting to know each child as an individual with unique contributions and needs. I loved discovering what the children’s interests and passions were and using that key to open the door to their learning. I also delighted in singing and dancing with my students. I looked forward to all of their special events where they worked as a group to perform for their parents and the school.

I was passionate about having a hands-on science program like FOSS, where the students could feed and handle the animals (fish, snails, worms, and isopods) to help them make observations and comparisons for their science journals. Because the five- and six-year-olds are also very attracted to live pets, I kept two guinea pigs in the classroom every year, and the children had the favorite job of classroom pet feeder.

What book should every kindergartner read?

There is a set of books written by Mark Teague that I read to every class just for fun. The books are One Halloween Night, The Lost and Found, and The Secret Shortcut. I like these stories because they intrigue the children and spark their imaginations. . . . If there is a message in these stories, it probably is that life is an adventure, stick with your friends when times get tough or uncertain, and never give up hope.

What were some of the biggest changes you saw during your time here?

When I first started here in the fall of 1979, there was no gymnasium or swimming pool, no Mary Johnson Center, no C2 science building. We did not have a computer in the preschool and kindergarten classrooms, but we had a typewriter. Now the children use iPads as part of their Lexia reading program. Back in the day, ours was a play-based program that developed over time to include the very best reading program around. The teachers and I were trained with IMSE, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education, which uses an Orton-Gillingham-based approach for teaching literacy. With effective teaching, students now have direct, explicit, sequential, and systematic instruction.

What did the students teach you?

Children have a sense of wonder and awe as they investigate their surroundings and learn with all of their senses. They have taught me that this is the most fun way to learn, even for adults.

This last class of kindergartners gave me hope for the future. With their kind hearts full of compassion, I believe they will change the world for the better.

What are your plans for retirement?

I went on vacation on the North Shore in Kauai in June with my husband, Don. It is like a home away from home for us. I will play beach volleyball (doubles) one or two times a week, continue to play my flute at Resurrection church, go to daily Mass when I feel called, and do beach walks most every day. . . . A wise person told me not to make any major decisions for an entire year after retiring, and I may do just that.

Jim Morton

In his 41-year-long career at Santa Catalina, Jim—known as Coach Morton, Morty, or Mort—taught and coached thousands of students at every age, from pre-kindergartners to seniors. In the Lower and Middle School, he cultivated countless strong swimmers and taught kids the value of teamwork during P.E. In the Upper School, he coached six sports at the varsity level and led the Cougars to 19 championships in swimming, water polo, field hockey, and softball.

What is your favorite memory from Santa Catalina?

There are way too many to nail down just one, but I always like the firsts: the first time a team wins a championship, the first time an athlete scores a goal or point in her career, the first time a Lower School student is able to swim the length of the pool without stopping.

What is the biggest takeaway from your time here?

People care about each other here.

What made working at Catalina special?

Great students and staff.

What is your favorite part of coaching?

Seeing athletes do something they didn’t think they could do. Not every athlete learns in the same way, so I have had to use a lot of different methods. Chalk talk, video, have them draw out a play, and even use a magnet board and have them move the magnets around. That is the fun part of coaching: coming up with ideas that help each athlete understand what we are trying to accomplish.

Is there a particular team you coached that stands out in your mind?

There were so many great teams I had the privilege of coaching. One that comes to mind right away was a group of Middle School girls who went un-scored-upon in flag football for two straight years. They went on to play water polo in the Upper School and won a league title. The first time I saw them after they graduated from the Upper School, they didn’t ask how the water polo team was doing—they wanted to know if the Middle School football team was still rocking it.

What was your favorite part about teaching the little kids?

The unexpected. They always kept me on my toes.

What were some of the biggest changes you saw during your time here?

The biggest change was the attitude in this country toward girls participating in sports. More programs were added in the Upper School, including volleyball, basketball, water polo, and lacrosse. The Middle School also added sports, for boys and girls, with track and field, volleyball, basketball, and golf. Of course, the other big changes were the new gym, field, and pool.

What did the students teach you?

Get over yourself.

What are your plans for retirement?

Be a full-time grandpa to my grandson. Travel in the off-season instead of when everyone else is normally off. Mountain bike whenever I want. And I will still coach water polo at Catalina.

Susan Kendall

Susan began her 40-year career at Santa Catalina as an English teacher. When the computer teacher resigned one summer, Susan volunteered to take over—and never looked back. Completely self-taught, “Mrs. Kendi” found her calling as the technical arts teacher, developing meaningful curricula for grades 1–8, establishing maker spaces, and guiding students through the latest technology, from floppy disks to 3D printers. She also served as Student Senate advisor and eighth-grade advisor, and coordinated student submissions (with winners every year) to the Scholastic Art Awards. She received the Sister Carlotta Distinguished Service Award in 2008.

What is your favorite memory from Santa Catalina?

Sister Carlotta’s warm, loving spirit is stamped in my memories. Even when I first interviewed with her for my job, I felt her vision, drive, and love for this school. Santa Catalina’s 50th anniversary party, where former and current members of the community gathered in a celebration, seemed to highlight her dream of our school as a “family.”

What is your biggest takeaway from your time here?

I loved teaching Middle School English when I first started at Santa Catalina, and as computers entered our academic world, I would bring my students to the computer lab to make websites, slideshow presentations, and videos that incorporated their writing skills. Eventually I was blessed to be given the opportunity to become the Lower and Middle School technology teacher. Sister Claire was instrumental in advancing my knowledge in the growing field of computers in education. Her encouragement and support led me to a much deeper level of learning in the STEAM and maker world.

What did you like best about the Scholastic Art Awards?

It was so wonderful to see my students’ work recognized by the Scholastic Art Awards in the areas of digital art, fashion, photography, comic art, jewelry, architecture and industrial design, video game design, and film and animation. These awards honored and demonstrated the depth of Catalina students’ interests, their creative drive, and their hard work. Every student had incredible ideas that blossomed as they delved into projects—not only for the Scholastic competition, but also for any assignments given.

What did the students teach you?

The students’ youthful energy brings so much to our world. They filled me with joy, laughter, and an appreciation for many things. They made suggestions on my wardrobe and just about everything else, and I loved it! Their honest and delightful comments were wonderful. I have watched my students achieve so much with their positive mindset and perseverance, and I hope to embrace that spirit in my own endeavors during retirement.

What are your plans for retirement?

My husband and I have lots of travel plans. We look forward to spending time with our three sons and extended family and friends. I recently converted a small room in our home to an “art” studio where I would like to pursue artistic endeavors. My additional hopes are to exercise, read, study Mandarin as well as other subjects, practice golf and tennis, spend time at the beach . . . and do some closet cleaning.