Today, we are thrilled to shine a bright light on our incredible Director, Kathy Horath! Kathy’s journey with Macon-Piatt Special Education District is a true testament to passion and persistence. Fun facts: she used to teach ice skating in Peoria as a summer gig, and she applied for an SEA position three times before getting it!

At 21, Kathy started her career teaching in Taylorville. Then, she transitioned to Mound Middle School in the summer of 2000 prior to moving to an SEA position in 2004, where her passion grew under the mentorship of Debbie Hoffert. She became Assistant Director in 2007 and ultimately stepped into the Director role in 2013. Across all her positions, her absolute favorite group to work with has been High School Life and Essential skills students. In her spare time, Kathy and enjoys sailing, and is a member of the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club.

We asked Kathy to share a little bit about her experiences and what keeps her going:

• What is the best part of the job? “It’s different every day. While there are always needs to be filled, routine can be what you make it, and it allows you to take on your interests.”
• Favorite MPSED memories? The Life and Essential Skills end-of-year events hold a very special place in her heart.
• Her go-to productivity trick? Simply taking a break and getting a quick change of scenery to reset!
• The biggest challenge she’s overcome? Managing difficult parenting or staffing situations with grace and leadership.
• Best tidbit of advice ever received? Always look for the positive things, especially on a bad day.

Kathy, thank you for your years of dedication, your leadership, and everything you do to make MPSED a wonderful place for our students and staff. Congratulations and best wishes on your upcoming retirement. We appreciate you! 💙

👉 Drop a comment on the MPSED Facebook post to show Kathy some love!

#TeamworkTuesday #staffappreciation #leadership #mpsed #mpsedspotlight