Family & Consumer Sciences teacher Kris Stary takes on a very special role at Palatine High School, as she balances the role of teaching both high school and preschool students in the Palatine area. As the lead director of the Pirate Pete Preschool, Stary not only offers guidance and support to high school students who aspire to become rising educators but also nurtures young minds in the classroom.
Stary has been teaching at Palatine for 22 years, being hired for the job right out of college.
“I actually got the job through a job fair,” Stary said. “I’d never been to Palatine before—I grew up in Orland Park and was living in Bensenville at the time. Before my interview, I drove up here to see the area, and after being hired, I’ve been here ever since.”
Stary’s admirable versatility and commitment to education had been prevalent throughout her early life, which set the stage for her education path.
“Teaching was always in my heart,” Stary said. “As a kid, I would force my siblings to play school. I’d set up suitcases, books and toys as my “students.”
The journey to discover the perfect outlet to showcase her love for teaching had been nothing short of difficult. While teaching had always been close to heart, figuring out a specific subject and age group to specialize in brought forth several hurdles.
“At first, I thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher because I loved kids and learning about why we are the way we are,” Stary said. “But then I interned in a fourth-grade classroom and quickly realized how hard and exhausting it was. Elementary teaching wasn’t for me—I wanted to have breaks and be able to have deeper conversations, which isn’t easy with younger kids.”
In an effort to fulfill her desire to help individuals discover their best version of themselves, Stary went on to major in Family and Consumer Science in college and took extra courses in areas of human growth and development, ultimately earning a master’s degree in education.
Stary strongly believes in implementing the fundamental practice of going beyond the class curriculum and developing meaningful connections with students. Resultantly, Stary would go on to become the founding member of the Palatine’s Promise program, where students would serve as representatives for the diverse groups of people at Palatine High School and plan activities to contribute to the overall sense of community for those who may have trouble discovering it. Due to the school’s decision to eliminate homeroom, the program ultimately faded. However, it undoubtedly made a strong impact in the 10 years it ran.
“What makes teaching special for me is not just the curriculum but also helping students grow and develop as individuals,” Stary said. “The activities where I help students understand themselves and their growth—those are the moments I treasure most.”
Stary was diagnosed with cancer last year, which led her to step back from teaching for the previous school year. Fortunately, she was able to return and has picked things up right from where she had left them.
“It’s a miracle I get to be here this year. I cherish every moment I have with my students,” Stary said. “I still have another 10 to 12 years before I can retire, and as long as I can teach, I plan to stay here. Hopefully, I have 10 or 12 years left in my life, too. I’m just soaking up every experience I can while I’m here.”
