The Pulaski County High School Career and Technical Education Center has selected Mrs. Kathy Pakkidis as their 2022-23 Employee of the Year.
Mrs. Pakkidis has worked for Pulaski County Public Schools since 2019, beginning as a biology teacher at PCHS. In 2020, she was hired as a secondary ITRT, then in 2021 she was selected as the Lead ITRT for the district.
“Mrs. Pakkidis is such a valued member of our CTE team,” Mrs. Megan Atkinson, Director of CTE and the Governor’s STEM Academy said. “Most of her work is done behind the scenes - training faculty on the latest technology, developing digital versions of assignments and helping troubleshoot all of the software used during our instructional days. We appreciate how she uses her experience as a classroom teacher to problem-solve alongside our faculty. Kathy is the definition of a team player. She encourages faculty to push themselves in utilizing effective instructional technology and responds quickly to help when technology is not doing what it is designed to do.”
“I am a Navy Brat, so I was born in Long Island, New York, but spent most of my life in Virginia,” Mrs. Pakkidis said. “After I graduated from college, I moved to Fredericksburg where I lived for about eight years. In 2013, I moved to Wytheville with family and started working for Galax City Public Schools. In 2018, I was hired by Pulaski County, which brought me closer to Wytheville.”
Pakkidis graduated from Eastern Lebanon County High School in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, with the Class of 2001. She went on to the University of Pittsburgh, where she graduated with a BS in Biology and Anthropology.
“After entering the workforce, I decided I wanted to be a teacher and worked on my teaching credentials at the University of Mary Washington, where I earned by Masters of Education,” she said.
In the form nominating her for the award, it stated, “As the ITRT that supports secondary teachers, Kathy is instrumental in helping CTE teachers develop virtual tools for instruction. She ensures grade books are set up properly, responds to teachers' and administrators’ calls when various technologies are not working, and assists the division during end-of-course testing. Just recently, she started compiling end-of-the-year activity ideas for teachers to use in the classroom. She draws upon her experience as a classroom teacher, and identifies ways to support all secondary teachers.”
The colleagues that nominated her said, “Kathy is always helpful in a timely manner. I can ask the same question more than once and she is always pleasant, patient, and professional.” Another colleague said, “I feel like Kathy has battled through rough days with a smile. She is always willing and ready to assist when called. With so many technology-based tools used in instruction, Ms. Pakkidis is a valued member of our team.”
“I like helping my fellow teachers with technology and assisting with creating digital assignments,” Mrs. Pakkidis said. “I feel teachers here work with each other and support each other. I’m challenged in my job to create fun and engaging digital assignments that are easy for both teachers and students to use.”
When not working, Mrs. Pakkidis enjoys traveling with her son, eight-year-old Nikolas. They enjoy going on adventures, learning new things, and seeing beautiful scenery. If not traveling, she enjoys being at home building Legos or puzzles with her son.
“My parents, Joyce and Gary Brightbill, have always been there for me,” she said.