The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

Courtyard Conversations: Superintendent Katie Kordel

Courtyard+Conversations%3A+Superintendent+Katie+Kordel
Kaitlin Anderson

Editor’s note: Courtyard Conversations is a monthly series, which features the school’s staff members, and a topic that is relevant to their lives or work at the school. TRL staff members speak with each month’s subject in the courtyard. For the first edition, TRL editors Lindsey Hughes and Parker Post kicked off the series interviewing principal Chris Mayfield.

After the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Michael Goddard, Katie Kordel assumed the position this year with 22 years of experience in education.

“I have long admired Lovejoy,” Kordel said. “Having been in two outstanding districts, Allen ISD and Frisco ISD, I knew about Lovejoy. When this opportunity became available, it was almost too good to be true.”

TRL’s Mathias Alling interviews superintendent Katie Kordel. Kordel talked about her experience as an educator. (Andrew Hager)

Kordel started her career as a biology teacher at Allen ISD. She then served in various roles in Frisco ISD including a middle school principal, Chief Academic Officer and deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Most recently, she worked in Allen ISD as the chief innovation and strategic initiatives officer.

“I think my favorite part has been the perspective that you get about the importance of the role that everybody else plays in the district,” Kordel said. “I have never been in a role where I have been more aware, or more humbled by the impact of our students, our staff and our community on our school system,” Kordel pauses. “You realize just deep in your heart that you can’t do anything alone, that it takes working together to make the school district great.”

Kodel appeared as ‘Katie, the Skull Crusher, Kordel’ at the homecoming pep rally. She hosted alongside teacher Ray Cooper, who gave Kordel the title. Kordel also appeared in senior Connor Dunn’s Mr. Lovejoy nomination video earlier this year.

“Oh my gosh, that’s hilarious,” Kordel smiles while continuing. “Well actually, Connor’s mom volunteered Connor this summer to do some videoing of some of our connection events. So Connor got roped into that and he was wonderful. He came out to events, got some video footage. When I think Connor was looking at going for Mr Lovejoy, he reached out to me and he said, ‘Hey, can you help me out’ and I said ‘absolutely, Connor’ I’m always happy [to help] because you helped me out.”

As displayed in Dunn’s video, Kordel is working on the school’s financial stability. Her goals also include revitalizing the district’s strategic planning process and creating committees to discuss finances and the district as a whole.

“This has been a very challenging time for education in general in school districts throughout our country,” Kordel said. “I think stopping and celebrating the small moments that are really big moments is precious, like right now” Kordel gestures to the rest of the courtyard “We’ve got students out here that are engaging with each other, enjoying their lunch in a courtyard, and after what we went through in the 19-20 school year, none of this can be taken for granted. These are precious, valuable, critical experiences.”

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About the Contributors
Mathias Alling, LJP Staff
Junior Mathias Alling is entering his third year on The Red Ledger as a section editor. He can often be found riding his bike at six in the morning, at school or learning more about cycling. If it has two wheels, handlebars and pedals, Alling is probably going to love it. He currently has 7,000 miles recorded in since he started riding and is currently going broke trying to buy more and more cycling computers and gear. Alling also enjoys cooking, watching TV shows and movies and spending time with his family. He is looking forward to the new school year and is ready to start writing and editing.
Andrew Hager, Photographer
Junior Andrew Hager enters his second year on The Red Ledger as a photographer. Hager enjoys spending time with his friends, photography and traveling. Hager picked up photography in early 2019, and enjoys taking and posting travel photos to his Instagram. His love for photography is more than just a hobby. His passion gave him opportunities to shoot family photos and weddings and engage in product photography. He’s the kind of person to discover a new Netflix show and finish it in one day. Hager is also known to stay up until four in the morning watching YouTube or playing Xbox. His favorite show is “Game of Thrones,” and his favorite food is Pizza Rolls. Hager looks forward to his second year on TRL staff.
Kaitlin Anderson, Graphic Designer
Beginning her fourth and final year on staff, senior Kaitlin Anderson is excited to finish off her final year with her favorite TRL family. After joining a journalism class in the seventh grade, Anderson quickly found an opportunity to express her creativity through graphics and has used her passion for it ever since. Outside of class, Anderson spends most of her time rodeoing or helping with FFA show cows. Most people consider rodeo as a hobby, but in her own words, “it’s a lifestyle.” She enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves overcoming challenges that life presents to her. She's eager to conquer her last year of high school and take on what the great world beyond it has to offer.

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