Kathy Biltoft to retire at end of school year

Kathy Biltoft began her career with Lawrence-Nelson in 1999-2000. She has been a part of the Lawrence-Nelson system for 31 years, teaching at L-N for 20 years.

Kathy attended Kansas State University in Manhattan and ran track for the Wildcats. Her freshman year, the women were called Wildkittens, and then with the introduction of Title 9, all teams were considered Wildcats. Kathy received her degree in K-12 physical education and driver education in 1979.

Kathy began at Nelson as the assistant basketball coach with Tom Murray and was added as a track assistant coach. Over the years, Kathy was a substitute and a paraprofessional before she began teaching physical education half days and fourth grade one year, then the next year, physical education half days and sixth grade. She took over teaching driver education when Mr. Deboer retired. She moved over to Lawrence and taught these classes along with physical education, art, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade science, and was the title teacher for a few years. She also taught keyboarding and computers.

Currently, she teaches reading and physical education. She has been a co-head coach with Diane Gebers for the Nelson volleyball team, assistant basketball coach and the junior high girls' basketball coach. For many years, she was involved in all three seasons of sports. At one time, she was the cross country coach, head girls basketball coach, and assistant track coach.

When asked what her fondest memory of working at L-N was, Kathy replied, "Oh my, there are so many stories that can count as a fondest memory. Teaching physical education and watching a child's face when they catch a ball for the first time, make a basket for the first time, jump and reach and touch the top of the door, leaving the gym for the first time. When a child helps someone up who is down with encouraging words, watching the elementary track meet every year, and seeing how each student has improved, every year that story repeats itself. It gives me great joy to see how proud they are of themself-also being a part of coaching. The stories of failures and successes and the failures that turn into successes are beyond compare. I had a lot of success with the girls and boys I got to coach. Watching young adults work hard together with a group for the common goal of being the best team on the floor or field, and preparing them to be able to do that by trying to expose the other team's weakness and making it our strength. Sometimes, my athletes didn't even realize what they could do, so I had to work harder to make that happen."

Kathy also said. "I always tried, and I hope I have been successful at making students-athletes develop confidence in themselves and know that I have truly cared for every one of them." Kathy said she would miss her students. As the PE teacher, she saw them on their best days and their worst. She always tried her best to put a smile on their face, and if they didn't have a smile, she for sure gave them one of her own.

Kathy's plans for retirement include catching up on her scrapbooking and having time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She also plans to make good use of her porch swing and catch up on some reading as well.