Thank You Kathleen Macy!
It is with profound sadness that I am writing today about the recent death of Kathleen Macy. I was first introduced to Kathleen through my mother-in-law, Marcia Hyatt. I was looking at moving into the K-12 sector, specifically with Saint Paul Public Schools, and was networking to learn as much as I could about the district, and the sector. Kathleen and I met at a coffee shop. We were scheduled for 30 minutes and ended up talking for almost two hours! Here is what she taught me at that meeting: don’t just ‘think’ about k-12. You need to want it. It is about the students. If you don’t have a passion for student achievement and learning, go work someplace else. Her passion, drive and commitment to education was evident, and contagious. Her second point: listen. To the community, to students, to staff, to senior leaders, to the board. Truly listen.
I heard you Kathleen. Your guidance then, and your guidance this past year and a half, have made all the difference in my life. Thank you.
Thank you as well to her husband Thomas and children Patrick, Katherine and Michelle. Thank you for sharing Kathleen with the world!
There is more in an article in the Saint Paul paper here. In that article, her son summed up what anyone experiences when you get to know Kathleen:
“She had high expectations for people. And she’d help you meet them, whether it was to be the best student you could be, the best husband you could be, the best son or daughter you could be.” – Patrick Macy
A memorial service is set for 5 p.m. this Friday, May 22nd, followed by a celebration of her life from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd. in Stillwater, MN.
Joe Raasch :: May.19.2009 :: Leadership, Life, Personal :: No Comments »