Community School is proud to announce that Executive Director Katrina Hill has been named Educator of the Year by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). The award will be presented this November at the 52nd Annual Conference for Middle Level Education in recognition of Hill’s outstanding impact on middle school students through leadership, vision, and advocacy.
“We are delighted to celebrate Katrina Hill, a truly transformative educator,” said James Barnes, Chair of the AMLE Foundation Fund. “Throughout her career, Katrina has consistently gone above and beyond to meet the needs of her students and school community.”
The national honor recognizes Hill’s 23-year commitment to reimagining student-centered education and middle level learning. Since joining Community School in 2002, she has served as Middle School Coordinator and classroom teacher before becoming Executive Director in 2024. During her tenure, Hill has been a driving force behind innovative programs, including the school’s Model U.N. program and an advisory program that fosters deeper student-teacher relationships. Hill also helped lead the process that resulted in Community School being named one of only 12 schools to receive the AMLE Schools of Distinction designation in the program’s inaugural year. Under her leadership, the school has championed approaches that support student growth, global citizenship, and experiential learning.
Hill’s philosophy challenges traditional perceptions of middle school education. “We’d always been taught to be afraid of middle schoolers, but I quickly found out just how wrong all of those assumptions were,” Hill said. “Middle schoolers are the best. They’re curious and invested, they push to make connections between what they’re learning at school with their own lives, and they want strong relationships with their teachers.”
Her impact extends throughout the school community. “I can think of no one more deserving of the AMLE Educator of the Year Award than Katrina Hill,” said parent Lauren De Meyts. “She is a visionary leader, a compassionate mentor, and a tireless advocate for her students and colleagues.”
The recognition highlights Community School’s mission to nurture curious, brave citizens and celebrates Hill’s enduring influence on students, educators, and the broader educational community.