Some time ago, OMS teacher Bridget Albers brought a box of flowers into her school to share with her colleagues with a note explaining their significance: these flowers are special. These help other plants grow and thrive when planted around them. Give one of these flowers to someone you think is a marigold, someone who helps you strive. Fellow teacher Christina Whelehon saw these and thought of the perfect person who represented this sentiment, and that was Katy Arbuthnot.
Arbuthnot, a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher at Oakville Middle School, passed away on Aug. 19, but she left behind a lasting legacy in the school and Mehlville community.
Arbuthnot was a teacher at OMS since 2006, originally teaching math classes and then later switching to a mix of PLTW and math. Many have credited her as always having an upbeat and positive attitude toward the school day and helping students in any way she could.
I can personally attest to this. My seventh grade year I came from an all virtual first semester back into the building with absolutely no understanding of math. She spent most of my extra time helping me get caught up, and I did. Within a month of practice with her, I was back up to speed with the rest of the group. I know she would — and did do that — for everyone, but it lasted with me and helped me to be the math student I am today.
Some of her students, colleagues, friends — no, those who felt she was family wanted to share some of their experiences with her as well.
OMS English teacher Christina Whelehon:
“I have always tried to surround myself with people who make me feel like sunshine so that I feel better when I’m around them. There is not a single negative thing to be said about Mrs. Arbuthnot. She was just sunshine…My first year with the team of teachers I had with me, Arbuthnot included, were the closest thing to family I could have apart from my own. We’d say ‘work is work, but we sometimes form bonds with people that are like family.’”
OMS history teacher Tyler Fernbacher:
“What I really appreciate about her professionalism is that she was able to realize what problems the subject threw at her, her students and the parents. She was such a pro, then realized it was no different in the STEM, STEAM and ‘stoom’ classes, but it never got her down — she was always positive…Things affected her just like they did the rest of us. If it was a hard day or a difficult group of kids, it still hurt her if she couldn’t reach them like she wanted to. If there’s a kid we know we can help but they’re just not willing to have it, she’d never stop trying — she never did.”
OHS student Claire Goodman (11):
“I remember being one of the only three girls in her robotics class and, not that she would favor us, but she definitely supported us a lot because we were the only girls. I loved her not only as a teacher, but as a person, too.”
OHS Student Kaitlyn Bridges (11):
“I’ll always remember doing the first project of the year in medical detectives. That’s when I realized I wanted to be in the medical field. Doing a project that I thought was stupid, but then actually sitting down and doing the project and being like, ‘Oh, this is something I want to do for the rest of my life.’ Mrs. Arbuthnot helped me know what I want to do.”
To honor Arbuthnot and her time at OMS, principal Mike Salsman has changed the title of the Teacher of the Year award to the Katy Arbuthnot Teacher of the Year Award.
If you have a story or anecdote about Mrs. Arbuthnot similar to those stated in the article, feel free to share them in the comments section.
