Cathy
When Cathy Chrisman first stepped into her role as the preschool director at Saint Simon and Jude Cathedral School, she carried with her years of experience, a deep love for children, and a strong belief in the importance of early education. She thought she knew what it meant to run a good preschool. Which includes creating a loving environment, teaching the fundamentals, helping kids prepare for kindergarten.
But it wasn’t long before she realized that something was missing.
“There were children we just didn’t know how to reach,” Cathy remembers. “We cared so much, but we didn’t have the tools. Some kids needed more support than we knew how to give, and it broke my heart to feel like we couldn’t meet their needs.”
That’s when Cathy connected with Southwest Human Development. Through the inclusion program, she built strong relationships with Kalli McElhinny, one of the program coaches. Cathy didn’t quite know what to expect at first. But what she found was someone who came alongside her and her teachers, not to tell them what they were doing wrong, but to listen, to understand, and to guide them toward solutions they could feel good about.
One child in particular stood out. “We had a student whose severe behaviors hadn’t been flagged previously,” she says. “We tried everything we knew, but nothing worked. He was frustrated, the teachers were frustrated, and the other children were affected too.
Through Kalli’s coaching, Cathy and her team began to see the child differently. “She helped us focus on his strengths instead of just the challenges,” Cathy explains. Together, they developed strategies that gave him a sense of security and belonging. With that, they saw not just his behavior improve, but the whole classroom dynamic shift.
“It wasn’t just about that one child,” Cathy says. “The entire class grew. They learned patience, empathy, and how to support one another. It changed all of us.”
For Cathy, working with Southwest Human Development has been more than professional development, it has been transformative. She sees her teachers growing in confidence, more willing to try new approaches and more attuned to the individual needs of each child. She sees children thriving because they feel understood and included.
“That’s the power of this program,” she says. “It reminds us that every child has a place here, and it helps us build a classroom where every child can shine.”