As the 2022-23 school year winds down, Herkimer Central School District is focusing the Spotlight Q&A feature on Herkimer CSD retirees.
Spotlight on: Katherine L. Orts
School social worker
“Probably some of my most special memories are of observing children helping and supporting each other – taking time to help tie another student’s sneakers, helping a classmate with an assignment, carrying something for a friend, saying goodbye and hugging a sibling in the morning, bringing a sick or injured classmate to the nurse, offering a comforting hug or words of encouragement or praise, giving up something to make a friend happy, helping a peer find the social work office, little ones holding hands on the way down the hall. These precious moments hold such heartwarming memories.”
Q. When is your specific retirement date?
A. July 1, 2023
Q. When did you start working at Herkimer CSD?
A. I started working at Herkimer Central School District September 1999 to December 199 as an interim school social worker, covering a maternity leave.
I returned September 2001 to June 2002 as a part-time school social worker at Herkimer Elementary School, while working toward my master’s degree.
I was hired as the full-time school social worker at Herkimer Elementary School in September 2002.
Q. What was your position when you started at Herkimer CSD?
A. School social worker
Q. Are there other roles you had while at Herkimer CSD that you would like to mention?
A. Substitute teacher
Q. Are you a graduate of Herkimer CSD?
A. I graduated from Herkimer High School in 1979.
Q. What is a memory you would like to share from your time at Herkimer CSD?
A. Probably some of my most special memories are of observing children helping and supporting each other – taking time to help tie another student’s sneakers, helping a classmate with an assignment, carrying something for a friend, saying goodbye and hugging a sibling in the morning, bringing a sick or injured classmate to the nurse, offering a comforting hug or words of encouragement or praise, giving up something to make a friend happy, helping a peer find the social work office, little ones holding hands on the way down the hall. These precious moments hold such heartwarming memories.
Q. What is something you are particularly proud of from your time working at Herkimer CSD?
A. I am so proud to have worked with such compassionate and giving individuals. I could share endless examples of the ways that I have been touched over the years by the care and concern that has been extended to our students and families in our school community, as well as colleagues experiencing personal challenges in their own lives.
Q. What are your plans for retirement?
A. I’m looking forward to taking some time to gently wind down and gain a peace of mind. I’m going to enjoy having time to focus on the special relationships in my life and fully appreciate some of life’s simple pleasures – quietly sipping a cup of tea in the morning, taking long walks in beautiful weather, making my own schedule, listening to soft jazz while I prepare meals, gardening, reading books for pleasure, visiting friends, taking long drives with my windows down, and checking things off my to do lists. Once I have had some time to decompress, I will see where my journey takes me.
Q. When you reflect on retiring from Herkimer CSD, what do you think about?
A. As I reflect on retirement, I have been fortunate to have held professional positions that I believe in passionately and that have been extremely important and meaningful in my life, although oftentimes, overwhelming, demanding and difficult as well. Honestly, contemplating retirement feels a bit like being on a roller coaster at times – thinking about all the changes that will be happening in the very near future, while at the same time, looking forward to so many wonderful future possibilities. I will miss the sense of meaning and purpose that has come with my career in this helping profession, as well as so many amazing people that have come into my life while at HCSD.