Leadership in Action

May 31, 2018

Kathleen Conklin, who is finishing her first year as the principal of Assumption St. Bridget, knew from a very young age that her future was in education. Her father, Mike Foy, served as the principal of Assumption-St. Bridget (ASB) for 14 years and her mother, Sandra Foy, served as the director of college counseling at Seattle Prep. 

A graduate from Gonzaga University, she earned her teaching certification, and returned to the Archdiocese of Seattle Catholic schools. She taught at St. Monica and St. Catherine before returning to teach at her own grade school, ASB, for 10 years. 

“When I met Kathleen at Assumption St. Bridget two years ago, she was serving as the Assistant Principal and teaching. Kathleen had a packed schedule that consisted of teaching responsibilities, appointments to advise students, planning meetings with faculty members and leadership responsibilities entrusted to her from the principal. Her attitude, disposition and rapport with the community, clearly demonstrated that Kathleen had the desire and the ability to lead as a principal,” offered Kelly Surapaneni, Coordinator of the Leadership Academy. 

As a Leadership Academy graduate, Kathleen is continuing to build the leadership capacity at her school, by mentoring her two assistant principals in the Leadership Academy and her two teacher leaders in the GRACE program.

On May 30th, in the last weeks of this 2017-2018 school year, ASB 8th graders celebrated their graduation. It was an emotional night for Kathleen as she reflected on how both she and her dad shared the role of principal in this beautiful ceremony and set of traditions. Kathleen remarked about this experience of sending off her first group of graduates, which included her 8th grade son, Max, “It was an incredible experience to celebrate as both parent and principal and to have the opportunity to hand my son his diploma.” Kathleen is carrying on a great legacy of leadership at ASB.