 Meet Our Resident Mermaid
Did you know that we have a teacher at Murch who is an aquatic goddess? A competitive swimmer most of her life, first-grade teacher Kathleen Bergin even held the record for the 200-meter backstroke at Catholic University. Here, the Maryland native tells us the many ways she stays in perpetual motion.
First things first: Where are you from?
I grew up in College Park, Maryland, and have lived in Glover Park, DC, since college. My grandmother grew up in Mount Pleasant.
When did you come to Murch?
Six years ago. I taught special education for three years, and this is my third year teaching first grade.
Was teaching your first love?
Actually, I love to swim and was a lifeguard, swim coach, and swim lesson instructor before I started teaching. I still love to swim and enjoy teaching swimming lessons in the summer. I started swimming on a summer swim team when I was four and then swam year round by eighth grade. At Catholic University, while on the swim team, I studied social work. Then I got my masters in early childhood education from George Washington University.
Why did you decide to become a teacher instead of going into social work?
My dad was a professor at American University, so I had always thought about the teaching profession. After college, I took some time to travel and planned to get a job as a social worker in the fall. Through a friend, I ended up getting a job as a teaching assistant at a school and loved it. I knew then that I wanted to get my masters in education and teach.
What has been your most memorable classroom moment?
My first year teaching first grade, there was a huge jumping bug in the classroom. The kids started screaming; so I had all of them sit down and went over to take care of the bug. However, I am petrified of bugs so when it jumped, I screamed. One of the first graders ended up rescuing me from the bug. The next day, writers’ workshop was full of stories about me jumping and screaming.
What has been your greatest challenge as a teacher?
Meeting the needs of all the students in the class.
What makes your teaching style unique?
There is a lot of movement in my classroom. We warm up every morning with a few minutes of dancing before starting morning meeting. We also do different exercises during the day to keep us energized. Then we have a few minutes of quiet time every day when the students can choose a quiet activity to do alone. The students love this time, and it helps us start off the afternoon in a calm way.
What enhancements or curriculum would you like to see at Murch?
I would love to have more assemblies and performances.
Besides swimming, what other hobbies do you have?
I have been volunteering at a camp for children with HIV since I was in college. My brother helped start the camp, my dad is the tennis instructor, and I run canoeing. Really Awesome Times, Inc. runs the camp, and I joined the board of directors two years ago. It has been amazing to watch kids that I met when they were in kindergarten graduate from high school and attend college themselves!
That is cool. You really are always in motion!
It’s true. I also love to travel. I take trips every chance I get. I spent the last two summers visiting Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. I love spending time outside and have taken trips out West the last two years to ski and, of course, still spend any free time I have in the summer at the beach or the pool.
Finally, how would you finish this sentence: “If I weren’t a teacher, I’d be a….”
...beach bum!
-- Donna LaPorte Scharpf
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