Katherine Roundy

Doctor of Education (EdD), The University of Bath, UK (in progress)
Master in Teaching, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, 2007
Bachelor of Arts, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, 2005

Katherine has always had a passion for experiential education, and it has taken many forms throughout her career. Her first full time job was as a summer camp counselor on Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, where she worked for seven summers. While most of that time was spent as the director/leader for the offsite expedition program, in her final summers she led the counselor-in-training program and was then the director of staff. The most rewarding part of all of those positions was helping individuals overcome challenges, both physical and mental, and through that process learn more about themselves.

Due to her interest in alternative learning, Katherine attended The Evergreen State College for both her undergraduate degree as well as for her Master in Teaching. Evergreen emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, which allows students to become well rounded in terms of their knowledge. During her time as an undergraduate, Katherine’s studies focused primarily on history, cultural studies, and literature but also included astronomy, sociology, and economics. During her studies she was also able to spend time studying Irish language and culture at Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille, Ireland and European history at Queen Mary, University of London. Both of these early international experiences sparked a desire in Katherine for further experiences living in and trying to understand other places. This inspired her to look outside the US while seeking her first teaching position.

Upon completing her Master in Teaching in 2007, Katherine began teaching literature and history in Honduras. She spent four years in Honduras teaching, learning Spanish, experiencing the local arts scene, and traveling extensively throughout Central America. In 2011, Katherine moved to Hong Kong to work for an IB World School dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for learners with diverse personal backgrounds and learning styles. This position allowed her to delve more deeply into differentiation and inquiry-based learning and gave her the opportunity to lead yearly international trips with her students. Living and working in Hong Kong, which proved to be a huge contrast from her previous experience in Latin America, also gave her time for her own personal travels around Asia. For Katherine, living in these widely divergent places has reinforced her deep respect for all cultures and her passion for understanding the various ways that people live in this world.

In 2017, Katherine moved to Boulder, CO to continue working as a High School English teacher and to work on her Doctorate in Education (EdD). She anticipates that her research thesis will center around experiential and outdoor education, but she has not yet reached that stage in her studies. In her free time she enjoys walking her dogs, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, and doing yoga. She is a NOLS alumna and is certified as a yoga instructor.