Katie Lawson entered education because she wanted to make a difference and that’s exactly what she is doing at Heritage Elementary. She supports the social/emotional well-being of her staff and students and prioritizes self-care and healthy boundaries.
Katie followed a traditional path to becoming a principal. Her educational experience includes being a second- and third-grade teacher, a combo teacher of high achieving and gifted students, a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)/Intervention Strategist, a gifted/talented coordinator, a student assessment coordinator, a new teacher mentor, and an assistant principal.
“I have worked with several center-based special education programs and have worked with a wide variety of behavioral challenges. I've taught in Rapid City, South Dakota, and I was an assistant principal at Castle Rock Elementary and Sand Creek Elementary,” she said.
Katie is most proud of being chosen to serve as principal at Heritage Elementary!
“I love this community and the wonderful support of our families. I'm so proud of this amazing staff and how they prioritize student success in all areas,” she said.
Spending time with her husband, Adam, and their two high school daughters is one of the ways that Katie relaxes and regroups at the end of the day. She said that those who work in education are always surrounded by people with huge hearts.
Elementary school teachers work harder than anyone I know and their ‘why’ is always centered around kids. This job is underpaid and undervalued - and teachers continue to show up because they want to make a difference. They are world changers!” she said.
They say you can get to a person’s heart through their stomach. Katie’s favorite way to show staff appreciation is to feed them!
“I have tasked the PTO with stocking our fridge and snack bins every month for staff. Teachers love easy-to-grab-and-go foods like cheese sticks and food bars. In addition, every week in August and September, a different team has received a hand-delivered Chick-fil-A meal on me!”
Taking walks around the building and checking in with students and staff keeps Katie energized at work. In her free time, Katie enjoys riding an electric bike and paddle boarding at Lake Dillon.