From the May 11, 2007 issue of The Cape Codder

New director arrives for charter school

By Mathew Belson
The Cape Codder
Thu Jul 19, 2007, 12:58 PM EDT

Orleans - When Katharine McNamara learned she had been selected as the new director of the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School she admits it was a dream come true. "I am just happy to be here and pinching myself," said McNamara, whose first day was Monday.

The Cape Codder caught up with McNamara this week to learn about her vision for the school as the new director.

"I think the school is in very good shape," she said, and is impressed by the level of community support for the students and curriculum partnerships such as Cape Repertory Theater and science programs hosted by the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.

The charter school is a public, tuition-free school serving grades 6 to 8. Admission to the school is by lottery.

McNamara said she first heard about the school from teacher Paul Niles, one of the founders, whom she has remained friends since college. Niles, who was acting director, encouraged her to apply for the job and visit the school.

"I was so taken with the place, with the students and faculty," she said, and was impressed by the curriculum which emphases experiential learning and environmental education.

During the interview process McNamara said student leaders on the search committee asked her toughest questions.

"They asked my what I learned in adolescence and how I would bring what I learned to the job," she said.

A native of Massachusetts, McNamara worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide focusing on educational, foreign and defense issues; then a stint as a producer for C-Span; and vice president of the Close-Up foundation that works to broaden studentsÕ understanding of American history.

More recently, McNamara was the director of public affairs at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, and director of admissions and public affairs at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.

While her work experience is in education, McNamara said she is not a teacher and her duties will be to support the efforts of the teachers.

"Kathy has fantastic communication skills," said Niles, and there was a decision to hire a new director with management and fundraising experience in education.

The biggest challenge for the school has been the ongoing search for a new location and the hope that a bigger and environmentally friendly building could eventually be constructed. The school is currently located at the Bayberry Square shopping plaza off Route 6A.

Although premature, McNamara said she would like to organize a comprehensive capital campaign for a new building and expanding programs.

As for Cape Cod connections, McNamara said her family has summered in Dennisport, and now are residents of Brewster. Her husband Mike will start as a teacher of world history at Nauset Regional High School and the coupleÕs three children, Maeve, 9; Lucy, 8 and Kay, 5; will attend Brewster elementary schools starting in September.