Getting to Know 2018 gcLi Scholar –Katherine Berdy By Katherine Berdy, LL’14, gcLi Scholar ‘18, Director of the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center, Altamont School (AL)
Who are your favorite writers?
Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Ray Bradbury, Khaled Housseili, C.S. Lewis, Pat Conroy, David Sedaris, Michael Malone, Mark Childress, Fyodor Dostoevsky
Who are your heroes in real life?
Though I certainly admire the famous heroes who can leverage fame and/or money in order to affect change, my real life heroes are real people whose lives are far from easy, yet they somehow navigate life with gratitude and peace.
My friend Francie is the first to come to mind; Francie has multiple sclerosis, yet I’ve never heard her complain. In fact, she almost always has a beautiful and sincere smile on her face, as well as a kind word for others. Daily tasks are very difficult for her, yet she’s the epitome of selfless strength and grace.
Kathryn and Ben Miree lost their son Kyser to senseless gun violence, yet they forge onward by creating opportunities for others to live meaningful lives. Their actions are truly heroic.
Who or What motivated you to become an educator?
I planned to go to law school, but I had the good fortune of working as an instructor for an outdoor education company the summer after I graduated from college. That summer gig turned into three years and made me realize how much I love working with teens.
What is your idea of happiness?
Helping others makes me very happy. I also love witnessing students’ “Ah Ha” moments and the pure excitement when students exceed their perceived limits and achieve a long-standing goal.
In a nutshell what is your definition of leadership?
With diligence and respect, leadership is working with others to illuminate strengths, visions, and values in order to make a positive, lasting impact on our world.
What would you change about cell phones in schools?
Ah, Pandora’s Box! First, Sreenagers should be required viewing for all students! Though admittedly incredibly idealistic, I want students to become better self-monitors of their own cell phone usage. Like ‘em or not, phones are here to stay. Rather than administrators changing cell phone policies with every new technological advancement, I would like students to realize the importance of the human connection that they miss when they are constantly thinking about or using a cell phone. Highlighting the many dangers and disadvantages of constant texting and virtual communication is one route, as is the constant discussion about the psychological and physiological importance of face-to-face interactions.
What do you most value in your friends?
I have the most amazing friends! In this too-busy and often tragic world, I have come to value time and laughter. I also value straightforward honesty, and the fact that we push one another to become better versions of our most authentic selves.
What do you do for self-renewal?
Knit, read, and write, and knit some more.
Who is your hero/heroine of fiction?
I can’t name only one, so I’ll go with the one with which I am most familiar: Guy Montag from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. He’s boring and bored until he discovers books, and with them, what it means to be a human being. His new convictions become so strong that he must break with the status quo and risk death in order experience Life. I love talking to students how this normal “Guy” assumes agency over his actions and makes a difference in the world.
What is your current state of mind?
For better and worse, I am a creative and somewhat scattered soul. When I make time to dream and plan, I can easily find a state of flow and cool things emerge. In this state of mind, I am super happy and relaxed. Unfortunately, a lot of small details are needed for dreams to become reality, and nitty-gritty is not my forte. In order to stay positive, I work hard to develop skills to deal with details, as well as an appreciation for the growth mindset. I also stop several times a day to breathe and re-group.
Katherine Berdy is a 2014 graduate of the gcLi Leadership Lab and the Director of the C. Kyser Ethical Leadership Center at The Altamont School in Birmingham, AL, where she has the privilege of connecting students to area nonprofits and businesses for project placement and service learning. Her teaching portfolio includes classes in English, theater, creative writing, leadership, public speaking, and debate. Katherine holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Vanderbilt University, and a M.Ed. in Secondary Language Arts from the University of Montevallo.