Interview with Mrs. Kathy Stokes
Lauren and Mrs. Stokes met over lunch and discussed memories of her time at Graland, what she’s doing now, and what or who makes her laugh.
What years did you teach at Graland:
- 1982 – 2002
Favorite books to teach at Graland:
- To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet
What are some of your favorite memories of Graland?
- Fond memories of old upper school buildings: the maze-like arrangement of funny little rooms, the threadbare carpets in the hallways which were used as a "student lounge" with old lunch bags and backpacks strewn about, the unused fireplaces in the old Gates science building.
- Mr. Rice’s raunchy Sasha stories.
- Mr. Hickey doing his “sweet moves" to demonstrate the difference between lie/lay verbs.
- How Mr. Hickey and Kay Hansen knew EVERYONE by name.
- Kevin Plummer-former Graland student, All-American who came back to teach history at Graland-and his hilarious stories about the "old Graland" he remembered.
What are you up to now?
- Taking and teaching classes in the adult education program at DU with Hilary Carlson (mother of Ingrid ’86 and Christina ’90). The program is Osher Lifeling Learning Institute, OLLI for men and women age 50 and “better”. www.universitycollege.du.edu/olli
- In this program she has taught: Jane Austen books, class on terrorism literature, class on Crimean war, "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up the Bodies" by Hilary Mantel (about Thomas Cromwell).
- Teaching next: "Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David" by Lawrence Wright.
- Classes she is taking: Catherine The Great, 8 Greek Dramas
- Spending lots of time with her family and grandchildren. About her grandchildren: "All of them are full of beans, and their parents blame it on their grandmother.” Sarah's ’86 daughters, Katie (8 yrs) and Molly (3 yrs), and Beckett's ’83 daughter and son, Eleanor (13 yrs) and Henry (10 yrs)
- Tutoring and mentoring students at the Denver School of Science and Technology
- "Paper books! But I love Goggling things."
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
