Editor’s note: To read profiles of all 2018 Blackboard Awards honorees, click HERE!
Katy Andermanis-Vonapartis
Pre-K 3
St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville
Tell us about some of the special joys and challenges you’ve experienced as
a teacher.
I always knew that I wanted to work with children when I was growing up. I used to tell people that I couldn’t act, sing, draw, or dance, but I could teach! A joy of teaching is when an 8th grader comes up to me in the hallway and says: “Thank you for being my first educator…I loved Pre-K 3.” Nothing warms my heart more than when a former student brings their own children to me because they had such a fond experience at St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville!
Please share a special project or achievement that you are particularly proud of from this year.
This year, I was able to partner with the KPMG Corporation to enhance literacy in young learners. Teachers were able to pick a class set of books to promote reading with their students. For example, in Pre-K 3, the children learned about the metamorphosis of a butterfly and they each received a non-fiction book about butterflies to bring home and discuss with their families. This project was a great success.
What keeps you motivated and committed to being a dedicated and hard-working educator?
The exciting thing about teaching is that every day is something different! There’s no better sense of achievement than seeing a light bulb switch on when a child understands a concept. The proud look upon their faces and their sense of accomplishment motivates me to make each day a place of joy and learning! I also think that with the support of my colleagues, administration, my mom, my family, my friends, and especially my husband, I am always ready to take on new challenges and be committed to St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville!
What do you love about your school?
I have been at St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville for almost 30 years! People ask me all the time why I haven’t gone on to pursue other educational endeavors. This is my little village on the Upper East Side! There is a true sense of community and family here. The parents, children, and fellow educators root for each other, raise each other up, support, and comfort each other. I wouldn’t trade this job for all of the money in the world!
