Catherine Steffus Northcott

I loved my high school years with all of my friends...the football games and Shakey's afterwards, pompons, basketball games, the disco at St. Elijah's, going to The Art, West Beach, bike riding all over Lake and Porter Counties with Bridget, Dairy Queen, Luigi's for lunch in Jr. High, playing (ahem) "beauty shop" with Cheri, walking just about everywhere we had to go, Junior Miss...I could go on and on. Very happy years with very happy memories!

One of the wicked memories I have would be driving around with Adriane Rujevcan, Sherri Anderson and Kim Govert - cruising Broadway and then going to the Liquor Bucket in Merrillville to get Boone's Farm Tickle Pink (Adri could buy it). We then bought oyster crackers and M&M's, mixed them (!) and enjoyed them thoroughly with our fine refreshments!! Afterwards, we went to Andrean High School and yelled obnoxious things at the residences of the nuns (terrible, I know!) until all of the lights started coming on in the darkened buildings. We hightailed it out of there, laughing our heads off!

I received my Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts with an Elementary Education emphasis from Purdue - West Lafayette. When I moved back from Maui, I received my Reading Specialist endorsement from Purdue Cal and started working at the Portage Township Schools. I've just "retired" after 11 years in Portage due to my move to New Hampshire. I hope to find a similar position in my new home, but I'm not looking just yet! I've worked on my Master's degree in a piecemeal fashion over the years. Maybe now that I have an "empty nest" (sob!) I will seriously work on that degree.

News flash!! As of February, I am once again working as a reading specialist on a Title I grant until the end of the school year (the end of JUNE in NH...ugh!!). I am working close to home in a tiny K-6 school - it has only 40 students!! I'm loving everything about the job, except its limited contract. Hopefully this position will lead to another great opportunity.