Kate McCarthy
Position: English Teacher
School: Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
School District: Oxford Hills School District
City, State: South Paris, ME
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Kate McCarthy was nominated anonymously.
Ms. McCarthy creates a positive classroom environment every day. When each student enters her room, she greets them with a hello and their name. Next, she and her students gather in a circle of chairs, and she usually has a question for everyone to answer; however, they are allowed to pass if they need to. For the most part, this sets the tone for the environment with laughter and lightheartedness and helps build their community.
After class, she usually shouts out, "You are all amazing, go do amazing things and be the amazing person you are." If she notices a student not in the best of moods, she makes a point to check in with them privately. Her job is with the students, and she will do what it takes to help them feel successful.
Ms. McCarthy has a unique vision to create an extraordinary environment where students immerse themselves in the learning experience. Picture a student-centered classroom brimming with creativity! Imagine a classroom where students can express themselves through personal journals, explore a lively and organized library, create colorful art, and learn through hands-on experiences. Her wish list includes composition notebooks for journaling, bookshelves, colorful art supplies, and easel paper for anchor charts to capture learning moments. Her classroom improves when students feel comfortable and have an organized space.
Ms. McCarthy has been part of a leadership team and a Subject Area Committee, and she co-created a literary journal called the Pen's Palate, where students have the opportunity to showcase their talents. The Pen's Palate accepts short stories, poetry, creative essays, photographs, paintings, and drawings. She is currently enrolled in an MFA program for creative writing.
People often ask why Ms. McCarthy matters so much to me. How could someone who was never even officially my teacher leave such a lasting impact? The only way I know how to answer that is by saying this for a long time, I felt invisible at school. I felt like just another face in a crowded hallway. Another name a teacher had no one truly saw. I was there, but not really noticed. Until she noticed me. I was never in her class. My boyfriend had her sophomore year, and I would simply walk him to her room. That should have been the extent of our connection a passing hello, nothing more. But every time she saw me, she greeted me. Not out of routine. Not out of obligation. She greeted me because she genuinely saw me. She noticed the things most people overlook. She noticed when I cut my hair. She noticed when my eyes were red and puffy from crying before school. She noticed when I tried to pretend I was okay, even when I was quietly falling apart. She could tell when a math test had ruined my entire morning, or when I was proud of myself for once. She remembered that I was in culinary and would ask what I was making, as if my life outside of grades and schedules truly mattered. When she found out I struggled with my hair, she brought me her own hair lotion. She remembered my birthday. And I remember wondering why does she care because I was not her student. In just two minutes every other day, she learned who I was. She listened. She remembered. Those small moments, so brief and seemingly insignificant, slowly became something I needed more than I care to admit. I would stop by before advisory. I would wave in the hallways. I would talk to her whenever I could. And she always met me with the same warmth, the same patience, the same unwavering kindness. Even though I was never her student, she treated me like I mattered. Like I belonged somewhere in that building. Over the summer, I helped her decorate her new classroom. I told her I loved a small cat sticky note she had. Without hesitation, she handed me the extra one she had been saving for her other desk. It may seem small, even silly, to get emotional over a sticky note — but I did. Because to me, it was proof. Proof that I wasn’t invisible. Proof that someone thought of me even when I wasn’t in the room. Ms. McCarthy is more than a teacher. She is what happens when someone chooses to care deeply in a place that can often feel overwhelming and impersonal. She shows up for people quietly, without being asked and without expecting recognition. Student or not, she makes space for you. She came into my life during a time when school felt unbearable when every day felt heavy, exhausting, and pointless. I was counting down the years, telling myself to just survive and get out. I truly did not think I would make it to graduation. I felt like I was slipping through the cracks while everyone else seemed to have a teacher supporting them. I felt unseen. Until she saw me. She did not fix everything. She did not magically make school easy. But she made it feel possible to keep going. And sometimes, that is everything. When one person truly pays attention, truly sees you it can be the difference between giving up and staying. Ms. McCarthy does not just teach curriculum. She teaches students that they matter. She reminds them, through small consistent acts of kindness, that they are worthy of being seen. She has easily become my favorite teacher, not because I sat in her classroom, but because she chose to step outside of it. She goes above and beyond for everyone students, colleagues, friends without hesitation. She gives her time, her energy, and her heart freely. She makes school worth coming to. So many students share a beautiful connection with her, and I am incredibly grateful to be one of them. For all of these reasons and more, I believe Ms. McCarthy truly deserves this award. She does not just educate she changes lives.
Kate is an educator who goes above and beyond to provide the best for her students. She has an inherent quality to foster positive relationships, and consistently seeks out opportunities that adds to her toolkit. She is the epitome of a life-long learner, and inspires others to be the same. She absolutely embodies the qualities of a "lifechanger."
She was one of my teachers, and when I say she was the best I mean it, she made the classroom better with just a smile. And she also cared a lot about everyone in the classroom especially the one she couldn’t connect well with and still tried to make the lessons enjoyable even the boring ones.
Ms. McCarthy has been my teacher for the majority of my high school career. She has remained a steadfast support, giving away kindness and support as though it never runs out- though for her that may actually be true. Whether she’s comforting a student, helping them with their work, or even chastising them, she always finds herself on the list of their favorite teachers. She buys her students food, rewards, and small gifts out of her own pocket; I consistently watch her let kids take a small gift for their birthdays and give the next what I would consider a full meal within minutes of each other. Ms. McCarthy has never once complained about a student- she only tries to problem solve- and when she finds the solution her whole face lights up like it’s Christmas.
She is always working at doing well by her students, her coworkers, and her family; to the point that she lets herself and her own needs fall through the cracks. For the past 2 years I have watched her carefully balance a masters program, teaching, assorted other workshops, and her own children, and she has never let anything slip by unnoticed or overlooked, except her own wellness. She was the first to notice when I was struggling, the fist to reach out, and the only one to actually get through to me. When I or one of my peers are struggling I know I can go to her for a real opinion and voice that she pairs with genuine concern and affection. Even when she couldn’t get through to me, she was the only one who didn’t give up trying. She has saved my life, whether she knows it or not, and I will forever be grateful to her.
Kate is a fantastic teacher! She builds quality relationships with her students and is truly and adult they can trust. She works constantly on her practice and she shares readily and collaborates easily. She is a joy to work with. She constantly presents ,material from different and varied perspectives and her classes are engaging. She cares and you can see that spilling through. She constantly and consistently advocates for our students and we are lucky to have her.
I am writing to strongly support the nomination of Kate McCarthy for the Life Changer of the Year award.
I have known Ms. McCarthy since my freshman year, and she has seen me through many different stages of my high school life a freshman who was dealing with a lot personally, a sophomore and a junior who struggled with attendance. Through every phase, Ms. McCarthy never gave up on me. She consistently gave me the chance to become the person she knew I was capable of being.
As a senior, I know how close I am to leaving, and I will never feel fully ready to do so. However, because of Ms. McCarthy’s constant guidance, support, and belief in me throughout the years, I know I am prepared for what comes next. Ms. McCarthy has had the biggest impact on me not only as a student, but as a person she is far more than just a teacher.
Ms. McCarthy always puts her students first. She sees the best in us, offers understanding and second chances, and creates an environment where students feel welcome, valued, and supported. Her impact goes far beyond academics she truly changes lives.
Ms. McCarthy is an extraordinary educator and an even more extraordinary person, and she is more than deserving of the Life Changer of the Year award.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Riley Schieferstein
I have watched Ms. McCarthy ply her craft for several years, as we are both ELA teachers, and co-facilitate our school's literary journal, funded by the Maine Environmental Educational Association. We have also attended several month-long workshops sponsored by various universities for credit toward our ongoing licensure requirements. This reflects Ms. McCarthy's commitment to lifelong education. Of note, she was accepted into a rigorous low-residency master's program in Fiction Writing and balances this work with her committee work at our high school, where she also works in our After School Intervention Program, helping kids who are falling behind catch up. She is the whole package!
Kate is not only a wonderful coworker and absolute joy to work with, but I would also consider her a dear friend. I look forward to seeing her smiling face across the hall from mine daily and I know I am not the only one. It’s hard to believe she has worked in Oxford Hills for only a few years, given the long lasting impact she’s made in the lives of her students. As a special education teacher myself, I know when I see her name on the schedule of my students, they will be in safe hands. I couldn’t ask for a better collaborator, communicator, and team member in Kate.
Ms McCarthy is the sweetest teacher. She’s extremely caring, helps her students not just with school, but as well as life. People go to her for advice I see it everyday and she does her best to help them. Not many teachers can say they’ve done this. She’s truly one of the most extraordinary teacher I’ve had I can say that for a fact. I love talking to her and even if I don’t have her class one day I take time and go see her. She is someone I like going to her when I have issues in my own life and she listens to me she has done more for me and I’m sure other students here at OHCHS than she knows. I’m truly thankful to have her in my life and I hope by the time I graduate I can still keep her in my life. She really means a lot to me. I can’t express enough how much she is loved here not just by me but by so many.
Ms. McCarthy is a great person and teacher. She has helped me with homework a great deal and even with some personal problems of mine. I think she's one of the best teachers that you can get along with and actually get good help that many different kinds of people could understand, she has a way of helping that let's you find out the answer yourself, while still being there for you to lean on.
Kate works hard to know each student, recognizes their strengths and fight for their growth. She may be the best at this strategy of any educator I know. Thank you Kate, I feel lucky every time I get to work with you on pushing our students to the next level.
I love Mrs McCarthy because she supports and cares about every one of her students. And it doesn't matter whether your her actual student or a student who eats lunch in her room. She treats you as if you were her kid, and is part of the many reasons that I love to see Mrs McCarthys loving and caring smile everyday! I really love how caring and supportive she is to each and everyone of her students.
- Benji
