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After the birth of her daughter, Katie, who was diagnosed with Autism, Cat Catanzaro, commonly known as “Coach Cat” was inspired to learn more about the special education plan for kids with disabilities.
Catanzaro has built a strong and respected reputation at LFHS as the head coach of the Girls Varsity Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams. Yet, many students don’t know the heart underneath her tough exterior.
In March 2023, Catanzaro began a program for special education at Greenville University. Now, a year later, she has finished her last class and will soon receive her LBS (Learning Behavior Specialist) degree.
Greenville offers an online program that allows Catanzaro to mix her schoolwork into her demanding schedule. This eight-week program conflicts with her lacrosse season, so Catanzaro has had an extremely chaotic routine.
“If you find time to balance and you are proactive, you can accomplish just about anything. If I know my schedule is going to get busy, I try to get ahead with my school work,” Catanzaro said.
Now that Katie is older and has started second grade, Catanzaro plans to prioritize her education and wants to build a bright future for her.
I want to be there for my daughter. As I sit through IEP meetings, by being knowledgeable of how the program works, I am able to advocate for her and her education
— Catanzaro
IEP (Individual education plan) is a program that ensures a strong learning environment, allowing students with disabilities to attend elementary school while receiving the specialized instruction they may need.
Mrs. Metz, a math teacher at LFHS, has also raised a daughter who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Now that her daughter is older, she can reflect on the learning environment she experienced.
“No one knows a child better than their parents, but education is best when parents and teachers work together to do what’s best for the students,” Metz said.
Along with being able to advocate for her daughter, Catanzaro also intends to better serve her students at LFHS. She wants to meet them where they are, but also push them to grow.
Junior Cate Lee has been coached by Catanzaro since her freshman year of high school and has become appreciative of her selflessness and reliability.
“Before I had her as my coach I was super intimidated by her. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know her and yes, she is strict, but she cares about all her players and students to the level where she would drop anything and everything to help,” Lee said.
