As her time at the school concludes, journalism teacher Kathy Habiger’s passion and commitment will leave a lasting impact on the school’s journalism department.
Habiger is one of the original teachers who came to the school when it first opened 26 years ago. Back then the school did not have as many departments as it does now. Many extracurricular teachers like Habiger had to work to build the programs the school has today.
“We had to advocate for ourselves [and the departments] but, all in all, I can say the district was super supportive,” Habiger said.“The friends that I’ve made here, the students and the administrators [that I’ve gotten to work with] have been fantastic in supporting journalism and watching our program grow,”
Having to advocate for herself helped Habiger shape the department into the successful one it is today, but even in her 30 years as an advisor, journalism was always about the life long impact it would leave on the students.
Additionally, all of that advocacy helped to shape her career.
“The support that I’ve gotten here has definitely shaped who I am as a teacher and what we’ve been able to accomplish here in terms of what I’ve done,” Habiger said.
In her 30 years as a journalism adviser, 26 being at the school she has accomplished. However, for Habiger, her award in terms of student journalism was about the life long impact it would leave on the students.
“I want [my students] to leave the program and say ‘I’m prepared for life,’” Habiger said. “I would hope that when kids leave the program, they remember those things over whatever plaques are hanging on the wall.”
Teachers who have worked closely with Habiger such as art teacher Erica Matyak have observed that her reputation is about much more than the plaques on the walls.
“No one can replace Kathy Habiger, I think her biggest impact will be her legacy. Matyak said. “How she affects or has encouraged the whole student. And when I say ‘whole student’, I’m talking about every[thing] like emotional, intellectual, [aspect] all of it”.
That love she has for her students is reflected in the support she provides. This guidance has benefited yearbook editor-in-chief junior Gracie Pollicita.
“I’m going to mainly miss having a mentor,” Pollicita said. “Habiger has taken on that role of guiding me not only in journalism but also throughout school.”
Former Mill Valley News and JagWire editor-in-chief Emma Clement remembers Habiger for this same leadership.
“I think [Habiger’s] legacy is being the students’ biggest support system [by] advocating for them and what they want to do, while still pushing them to produce good journalism,” Clement said.
While her memories are preserved in 30 yearbooks and hundreds of newspapers, as she looks back what Habiger will remember most is the time she spent with her students.
“I have had some really tremendous kids,” Habiger said.“I don’t remember anything bad. I remember the crazy stuff we did and trips we took. The work nights, the food and all the publications too, but mostly it was just the times that we had together.”
After dedicating so much time to journalism throughout her career, Habiger is ready for the new challenges and adventures the next phase of her life will bring.
“When you do something 30 years in a row consecutively without stopping, you don’t try other things, and I think it’s time to do that,” Habiger said. “Right now, [I want to] explore things and see what happens.”
