CUSD 50 Staff Spotlight: Kate Bieschke, Instructional Coach at Harvard Junior High
"I grew up in Bolingbrook, a southwest suburb of Chicago, and attended St. Dominick’s through elementary and junior high. My high school years were spread across three schools due to family circumstances: Mt. Assisi Academy for my freshman and sophomore years, St. Francis for junior year, and Geneva High School for my senior year.
Those transitions were challenging, but they shaped me. Moving through so many environments in such a short time taught me resilience, perseverance, and how to build relationships quickly and authentically. I later attended Illinois State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in education, and completed my master’s degree in reading at Concordia University Chicago in 2011."
"My inspiration came from my own struggles as a student. In 8th grade, I was reading at a 3rd-grade level and genuinely believed I wasn’t smart and wouldn’t amount to much. My school didn’t have the resources to support my needs, and the gap only grew.
Everything shifted my senior year of high school. A combination of strong teachers, better support, and a clearer understanding of how I learned finally helped me succeed. That academic and emotional turnaround changed the trajectory of my life. My confidence grew, and I knew I wanted to become the kind of teacher who could help students who felt lost or unseen, students like me.
I began teaching in 1990 and spent 26 years teaching 6th–8th grade reading and writing, most of them in 8th grade. In 2016, I stepped out of the classroom to help develop MTSS and SEL systems across three middle schools. In 2019, I became an Instructional Coach, and I’m now in my fourth year serving the Harvard CUSD 50 community in that role."
"Education is more than my profession, it’s my purpose. My mission is to be selfless, accepting, vulnerable, and genuine while providing purposeful, authentic support that empowers all. Being an educator allows me to live that mission every single day."
"Harvard CUSD 50 truly feels like family. We show up for one another, and we go above and beyond for our students and colleagues. The support, trust, and empowerment that flow through this community are remarkable. I can say with complete conviction that Harvard is the best district I’ve ever had the privilege to serve."
"Live the example. People mirror the energy around them, so lead with the kind of presence you hope to see. Hold onto positivity even when the circumstances don’t make it easy. Offer compassion freely and give grace generously.
Replace “How are you?” with “How’s your joy today?”, it opens the door to more honest, hopeful conversations. We can’t control everything that comes our way, but we can choose our response. Choose solutions. Choose encouragement. Choose to be someone’s light when their day feels dim.
And always remember: you are courageous, strong, powerful, and beautifully enough, just as you are."