Meet the 2012 Mom Congress Indiana Delegate

Kathie Green is the 2012 Mom Congress Delegate for Indiana. Kathie has been married to Mike Green for 25 years and has four children and three grandchildren.  She is the Director of Constituent Services for Congressman Marlin Stutzman. Since moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2000, Kathie has been an active PTA volunteer and Fort Wayne Community Schools supporter.

One thing that is going great in education in your state: Our state had some extra money and they put it into funding full-day kindergarten. I truly believe that a change in education starts at this level (or even in preschool programs) and full funding will make a tremendous difference in our state. 

One thing you wish could be improved in education in your state: Everyone talks about teachers and staff.  Changes lately revolve around them. I believe there needs to be accountability and buy-in from parents and students. Parents need to be at the table when decisions are made and instead of punitive programs developed, there needs to be a way to encourage involvement and recognize the schools that allow this to happen.

Your favorite teacher (and why): Rose Farrell and John Eastes. They actually were my son’s teachers after he was hurt in a car/bike accident. I couldn’t have asked for better, more compassionate teachers than Mrs. Farrell and Mr. Eastes. In a big high school, my son needed champions, extra help and someone who cared. I was afraid he would be lost in the crowd. A lot of the staff at Northrop pulled him through high school. Mrs. Farrell and Mr. Eastes were my heroes that first semester back.

Your hero: My stepfather, Fred Hemsath. He joined our family when I was at a tough age and even now 41 years later, he is my go to person for advice. He is a dad in every sense of the word and I am so lucky to have him in my life and he stayed in my life after my mother passed away at a young age. He could have bolted but he didn’t.

Favorite quote: “This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.”

Favorite subject in school (and why): Marketing. EVERYTHING is marketing and how things are presented. If you get to know about this, it changes the game.

Biggest wish for your kids: To find something they love to do for a career. I am so blessed to have a job I love – I want this for my children more than anything.

Most rewarding/challenging stage of parenthood thus far (and why): You don’t stop worrying when your children turn 18. 18 brings on a whole new set of worries and issues. Young adults have to find their own path and potentially make some bad decisions – you can only hope they get through this stage with grace. This was and is a very hard adjustment to make as a mother. You have to trust that in the long run everything will be all right.

Favorite family tradition: Reading in the car on trips. We would get to our destination and the kids would want me to keep reading the book until we finished. We did Charlotte’s Web, the Little House on the Prairie Series, the Fudge books, and graduated up to Harry Potter. Great memories!

Favorite weeknight family dinner: Anything my daughter makes – she tries to help out some nights and I am grateful!