Normalizing Joy - Kat McRitchie

If ever I had a kindred spirit, Kathryn McRitchie is it. We met in a class I was teaching at Stanford University one summer, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching for Social Studies. She walked in with her “Moms Demand Action” tote bag and said good morning to me with her Tennessee accent; to say she had me at hello is just the truth. Since then we’ve remained in touch, developing a friendship grounded in the love of our kids (and of story corps, truth be told) and a deep passion for both the art and the science of teaching. Kat’s joy is endearing, quirky, and delightful. She is unabashedly curious and allows that curiosity to lead her anywhere it wants to, even if it makes people think she’s a little nuts. She is a little nuts, just like we all are, and part of what makes her so special is that she doesn’t wear the cloak of cool to pretend otherwise. She’s exceptionally smart, super witty, deeply faithful, and among the most nurturing people I know. It was my great fortune to gain such a great colleague as she walked into my classroom that summer morning years ago, and it’s my great privilege, now, to call her friend.