Dr. Kathryn Suk’s journey led her on a seasoned path to becoming an educator with 27 years of teaching experience after graduating from the Bound Brook School District in 1992.
Her passion for providing personal and professional development opportunities for herself, students, and colleagues stems from overcoming one of the biggest challenges in her career – following your heart!
The Bound Brook School District continues to spotlight our talented alumni, who have excelled and broken barriers to become professionals in their field of studies.
Get to know more about Dr. Suk:
What do you currently do (your career/college path)?
I decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching after graduating from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1996. Life took some turns prompting me to explore other avenues to pursue professional licensure. In 1998, I entered the Alternate Route to Teaching Program and later completed a Master of Education in Instruction from The College of New Jersey. I went on to earn a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Stockton University in 2019.
Between 1998 and 2008, I served two public school districts. I taught middle school math and Spanish for one year and fourth grade for nine years. I hold certificates as both an Elementary Classroom Teacher and a Supervisor of Instruction. Currently, I am a professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where I have been teaching preservice teachers for 17 years.
How did Bound Brook prepare you for your future?
Although I was a strong student, a varsity athlete and cheerleader, and an officer of multiple Honor Societies and clubs, I was the victim of constant bullying. I learned strength of character is essential, and no matter the obstacle, I had to remain true to myself. That commitment to authenticity and integrity has served me well, and I make every effort to foster the same qualities in my son and my students for their futures.
Did any teachers or staff mentor you along that path?
Many of the influential educators during my time in the Bound Brook School District are no longer with the district, have retired, or have passed on. It is difficult to select which were the most instrumental or impactful along my journey. There are too many to name; some had a positive influence on me as a student, while others guided me as an educator. There were happy and challenging moments with them; each experiencing playing a role in shaping the person I am today. I am grateful to have shared those experiences with them.
What was your most memorable moment at Bound Brook?
There are so many memories to choose from, it is next to impossible to select one. I do believe, however, that the times that I’ve gotten to speak about my pride in our town resonate with me the most. I did so at a Board of Education meeting during high school. And just recently, I did so at Smalley School’s Multicultural Night two years ago and at an Alumni Panel at Bound Brook High School a few months ago. We, the Crusaders, are often discounted as underdogs because of where we live and where we’ve come from; however, our story is so rich and so diverse because of our histories. This is what makes us small but mighty and I don’t want anyone to forget it ever!
What advice would you give Bound Brook students looking to enter that career?
Teaching is one of the most noble professions and one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you can select. As members of the Bound Brook School Community, you know that the diversity of our student population does not match the diversity of the educator population. We need more representation in the Teaching profession. We need more males, and we need more Black and Latinx educators in our nation’s classrooms. We can all name one or more than one teacher who positively impacted our lives; don’t you want to be that same influence in someone else’s life someday?
Please consider pursuing a career in Education, and if you have any questions, reach out! I’m happy to help you to navigate this career path as the journey to licensure may look different for each of you.
What is a challenge or obstacle that you overcame and are proud of regarding your career?
The greatest challenge I have overcome in my career was being able to follow my heart! When I went to my high school guidance counselor to tell him I wanted to be a bilingual guidance counselor, he lost his mind. He screamed, “You’re too smart for Education!” I entered college to study accounting, and I was miserable. When I finally did what I felt called to do, I never looked back. I am so grateful for all I have accomplished as an educator, but most importantly, I am so incredibly proud of all my students have accomplished. They, and my son, are my legacy; I could not be prouder of all of them!
What are some future goals or aspirations that you have for your own career?
I have been teaching for 27 years. My role in the classroom and the profession continues to evolve. Right now, I aspire to bring the Alternate Route to teaching program to Raritan Valley Community College. Further, I am collaborating with other community college colleagues to develop a pathway for paraprofessionals to pursue teaching credentials, as well. I want to ensure that the teacher pipeline is filled with passionate, qualified, community-oriented professionals who can serve their students and communities with pride, intelligence, and honor.
Dr. Suk encourages any student who may be interested in these programs or looking to learn more about pursuing Education as a career to reach out at 908-526-1200 x8983 or kathryn.suk@raritanval.edu.