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Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Catherine Kaufmann, a Maryvale Preparatory School English teacher, reacts at being named the Archdiocese of Baltimore Independent High School Teacher of the Year during a May 7 class in Towson. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Faith, creativity and connection drive teacher of the year Catherine Kauffmann


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Some of Catherine Kauffmann’s favorite things to do are working with texts and writing. As a high school English teacher at Maryvale Preparatory School in Lutherville, Kauffmann is able to do both.

“I love the pace of the work,” Kauffmann said. “Working with teenagers is very rewarding. Teachers get to laugh. We have a lot of fun.”

In May, Kauffmann was named the Independent Catholic School Teacher of the year.

Jennifer Nicholas, assistant head of academics/upper school head, said Kauffmann is a “versatile teacher” who has taught seventh, ninth and 10th grades and AP language. She will teach a new creative writing class next year. 

Catherine Kaufmann, Maryvale Preparatory School English teacher and Archdiocese of Baltimore Independent High School Teacher of the Year, works with students during a May 7 class in Towson. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“She’s a tremendous peer to others, lending a helping hand to colleagues in need,” Nicholas said. “She’s a trusted teacher to all of her students.”

Teenagers, Kauffmann said, want to “feel known.” In her position, she can give them “space to be themselves” with assignments that are structured but have “a lot of creativity.”

“I have a lot of room to do that for them.” Kauffmann said. 

It is essential, she added, to have people “who are dedicated” to teaching, and she finds herself growing and enjoying it more and more each year.

“It is a real positive experience here,” Kauffmann said of Maryvale. “Students here are so excited to learn. It is very rewarding.”

Kauffmann has been a teacher for 10 years, the last four at Maryvale. While she was born in Maryland, she and her family moved to Ohio when she was young. She spent her first six years of teaching in Seattle, Washington, before moving to Maryland with her husband. A resident of Baltimore, she attends different parishes around the city.

A product of public schools, she attended Loyola University in Chicago where she was a double major in English literature and with a minor in music. and had a “real positive experience” doing student teaching. Catholic schools, she noted, allow a teacher “to care for the whole person.”

“The faith component is powerful,” she said. “My job is very rewarding.”

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

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