MOVING UP, IN, AND ON
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF ON THE MOVE
Red&Gold: What career path led you to Cathedral? Cathy Madison: After I graduated from the Amherst Five College Program, I was hired to attend a two-year program to become a systems engineer for IBM. I loved school, and was very happy to be paid to go to school! After a few years at IBM, I began working at Ernst and Young as a Systems Engineering consul- tant. After my son William was born, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Samuel, my son who attended Cathedral, is my second child, and my third child is Avery. I discovered that I was fascinated by the wonders of child development. I continued to pursue this interest and eventually earned a master’s degree in education from the University of San Francisco. Before joining CSB, I worked for The Little School preschool, then at The Nueva School as a science teacher, and finally at the high school level as a long- term substitute teacher for the SFUSD. R&G: What roles did you have at CSB? CM: I was hired to be the Admission Director, but also worked as the School’s golf coach. R&G: What was a typical day like? CM: I love getting to work early, making coffee for Mr. Marini and other early birds—we called ourselves the “Breakfast Club.” Then if you have car duty, you get to see the families diving into their day with so much enthusiasm. Or on Band days, I loved sitting in the trombones and tuba section with my cello, and feeling that when we played together there was a possibility that this could eventually sound like the real melody! Depending on the time of year, I could always look
10. Listen to some amazing podcasts that I have put on hold. 11. Teach line dancing at senior living communities. 12. Advance my cheese-making skills beyond feta. 13. Start my own business!! R&G: May we call you with any problems that might arise after your departure? CM: Tara has everything under control and I can’t imagine anything coming up that she can’t handle! I consider Tara a friend with a big heart who will continue to craft excellent classes at CSB! If she were to call me for assistance, I would be there in a heartbeat just to be part of the joy again! Also, Jackie Jung has coined a phrase, Trolling for Treats. This incredible phenomenon is when faculty or staff walk down the hall and glance into the faculty room and swing by to indulge in a treat, if there is one available. It’s a known fact that a whole roasted pig, surrounded by chocolate truffles, was consumed in about 25 minutes, on a Monday morning in 2006. I believe if we don’t continue to stock the faculty room with a variety of snack foods, we could have a crisis on our hands, especially with Burns’ sweet tooth!
classroom, and I used that to teach the boys some key aspects of golf. At first, golf was an elective, and on rainy days we would shoot pool at a bar on Polk Street. (There were no other customers because it was late in the morning, and it wasn’t open officially yet.) We would learn a bit about geometry and planes to get the balls in the cups. I was truly terrible at both golf and pool, but the boys were so fun, funny, endearing, coachable, and earnest. Some of those boys are still in touch, and when they describe memorable moments, I can see how little things can change a boy’s perspective and possibly change his course of future actions. R&G: What is next? CM: 1. Spend more quality time with my husband Bill, kids, and my grandson, Boo. 2. Travel to places that I’ve never seen. 3. Take cello lessons so I will not be last chair in my orchestra. 4. Learn more about my bees, continue to participate in bee studies, and eventually become an official Certified Master Beekeeper. 5. See friends on a regular basis. 6. Attend more lectures, opera, plays, ballets, and symphonies. And, of course, see the Giants! 7. Plant trees in SF! 8. Hike many more mountain ranges around the world. Finish the Appalachian Trail. 9. Help out at the Suicide Prevention Center hotline.
forward to tours, preschool visits, screen- ings, visitors, golf practice, and generally helping where needed. I loved all the lovely traditions like Blessing of the Animals, Lessons and Carols, Student Council Fair, and CSB Picnic Sunday. R&G: What did you like best about working at CSB? CM: I loved meeting new parents and boys during the interview and screening process. I learned so much about people and parenting from those interviews. I became a better parent because of seeing how our parents care for their boys. I also loved being in chapel. Chapel always triggered an endorphin release, whether it was a thematic Wednesday chapel talk by Kate or Paul or a Friday Hymn Sing with the Choir. However, our motto, “Minds, Hearts, Hands, and Voices,” is mostly exhibited by all of the great faculty and staff. I am a better person because of my stellar colleagues. R&G: What was your favorite lunch menu item? CM: I am a foodie, so I love this question. Cameron is a fabulous cook, and my very favorite lunch item is the chicken curry on rice. He gave me the recipe and it is now a family favorite! Cameron is one of those generous spirited people who seems to touch everyone’s life with his good will and Zen-like ways. I feel we are blessed to have him in our community. R&G: What was your favorite CSB activity or event? CM: I loved teaching and coaching golf. I had a physics unit that involved kinesiology from the time I taught in the
Q&A WITH CATHY MADISON After 13 years, our Admission Director Cathy Madison has retired.
FALL 2018 • RED & GOLD | 101
100 | CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
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