Kata studied cellular and molecular biology at Connecticut College and has enjoyed sharing her love of these topics by teaching biology, chemistry and human anatomy and physiology at KO. She has also studied community psychology, abnormal psychology, and family therapy at the University of New Haven. Kata has worked in the Dean’s Office at KO for over a decade and loves the work she does to support students in their personal growth and development and engagement in the community. Kata also serves as head coach of the varsity swimming and diving team. She lives in West Hartford with her husband (and fellow KO faculty member) David Baker, their two children, and their dog Dobby. 

Megan comes to KO from the Pingry School in New Jersey, where she taught junior and senior seminars and the 10th-grade English course. She is also interested in ancient texts such as the Tain and the Epic of Gilgamesh, exploring the intersection of modern media and literature. In her classes, student collaborate with each other to engage deeply with literature and find resonance in their own lives. A life-long learner, Megan learns from her students daily, a shared inquiry into knowledge that unlocks the doors to the world and the lives between the pages of books and the world around us.

Kraus loves the natural energy in the classroom and the pursuit of ideas and problem-solving that is positive and purposeful.“In science, I appreciate making the material clearer for my students,” he said. “The class begins as a big adventure into the vast unknown, and in the last third of the year, the kids get excited by their own understanding. They can absorb this challenging information now. They have a sense of confidence and think, ‘I can handle this. It’s all coming together.’ As an educator, it’s incredibly gratifying to witness that and know that you were a part of the student’s development.”

Recognizing his extraordinary generosity and fairness, The Founders League recently awarded Kraus the M.D. Nadal Sportsmanship Award for 2018. Kraus believes that sports provide an essential pathway for living and learning life lessons: “Here’s how you work hard, here’s how it plays out, here’s how you measure success,” he said.

Matthew integrates real-world laboratory experience into the classroom. As a former marine biology teacher, he crafted laboratories, dissections, and field trips to enhance his students’ understanding of the class material. As a working biologist, he educated new hires at his research firm about the complexities of the endocrine system in aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates. He can’t wait to instill a love and respect of the natural world in his students.