Our "Employee Spotlight" series aims to showcase the unique personalities, talents, and stories that contribute to the success of our district. This section celebrates the incredible individuals who make our Lansing USD469 community thrive.
Catherine Finnigin, Paraeducator for Gifted Services (LMS)
Question: How long have you worked in Lansing USD469?
Answer: 11 years
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the role you have within the school district?
Answer: I am married and have two sons. Marcus is currently a sophomore at LHS, and Jacob is an 8th grader at LMS. For the past 11 years, I have assisted LMS students (grades 6 - 8) with their Advanced Studies coursework as well as 7th grade students enrolled in Literature Plus. I assist in Physical Science and schedule annual IEP meetings for each student receiving gifted services. I also assist in general education classrooms as needed.
Question: What do you enjoy most about your role and the work you do in the school district?
Answer: There are so many things! I love the little details within the connections that I have with our students. Each student has their own specific laugh, sense of humor, style of learning, wit, candor, nuances. I can even appreciate some middle school moodiness because who doesn't have a moody day now and then? I also appreciate looking at the faces of and talking to the wonderful teachers in my building. It is mind-blowing how hard they work and what they accomplish every day. No matter what, teachers press onward.
Question: When you're not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Answer: I am a homebody. I refuse to have fun past 9 p.m. : ) What I enjoy most is being at my house with my husband and children. We just hang out together. We love watching shows like The Big Bang Theory, The Office, and Parks & Rec. We play board games like Risk, Ticket to Ride, and Catan. We work on projects around the house. I love it when my sons have their friends over. We are fortunate to have several family members living on our road, so they visit from time to time. That's always a guaranteed good time. (Again, I would like everyone to be gone by 9 p.m. Hehe.) I like reading biographies and watching documentaries. I love going on road trips and we are fortunate to be taking one this summer to visit some national parks.
Question: What is something unusual about you that most people don't know?
Answer: I graduated from KU with a Bachelor's Degree in Atmospheric Science. There was a time that I thought I might want to be a meteorologist on television. During college, I had an internship at a television station in Topeka. When it came time to film my weather segment, I quickly realized how much I hated being in front of a camera. I felt so uncomfortable. It felt like there were a million eyes on me. I still have the videotape of the recording. My family likes to laugh at it.
Question: Could you share a particularly heartwarming or memorable experience you've had while working with students or colleagues?
Answer: I have been lucky enough to receive some incredible letters from students over the years thanking me for being part of their journey. Sometimes you don't even know how deeply you have impacted a student until they tell you in their own words. It is incredibly heartwarming anytime a student reaches out to me once they leave middle school. I have had some seniors who have written to me, letting me know that they would like to remain in contact after graduation. I will support our students for as long as they will let me!
Question: What piece of advice would you like to offer to students to help them succeed and make the most of their educational journey?
Answer: Take excellent care of and prioritize your mental health. Understand what self-care means to you and put it into practice. Limit the use of social media. The less you judge yourself, others, and things, the happier you will be. We are taught to admire the strength it takes to reach our goals, but you should also admire the power, strength, and courage it takes to pull yourself out of a hole. Focus on what makes you content, peaceful, and happy and less on "looking successful". At the end of the day, who do those looks really matter to anyway?