Her Story
About Kathleen
Kathleen Libby serves as a multilingual teacher and case manager at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Maine, where she has worked since 2015. She earned her endorsement as a Teacher of English Speakers of Other Languages and holds a master's degree in linguistics focused on teaching English to speakers of other languages. Prior to this role, she spent approximately 20 years in special education, supporting students with learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and spectrum disorders. Her professional focus includes building relationships with African immigrant families and English language learners in the community. She advocates for more equitable practices to address othering, systemic racism, and communication barriers that disproportionately affect Black English learners in her school and community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathleen
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When you're upset, take a deep breath and count to 5. When you feel disrespected, take a moment, take a breath before you reply because those words will last forever.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find your people. If you're having trouble finding people that support you, mentor you, then find an administrator that could guide you to people or other teachers. If that is not helpful, go even over them because we really want the new teachers to be supported and to make it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There is othering in the community and at school where African immigrant students who are Black and English language learners are grouped together and underserved. They face systemic racism, gun violence in the area, and are three times more likely to deal with serious discipline. The English learner test is overly difficult, and cultural differences lead to communication breakdowns. I want to be an agent to bridge those gaps and overcome biases.
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