Cate Sinclair first joined the IMS community as a Pre-K student back in 2005. Eleven years later, she graduated from IMS as a “lifer” and went on to attend Millbrook School and Endicott College. This past school year, she returned to the Pre-K classroom — this time as a teacher.

IMS: What drew you back to IMS as a teacher?

CS: My connection with the community. Having stayed in touch with many of my former teachers and now colleagues, it was a no-brainer to make my return to the mountain when the time was right. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree in Education from Endicott College in Beverly, MA, I was super excited to be able to fulfill my dreams of being a teacher at the school that helped shape so much of my childhood.

IMS: Can you share a favorite memory from your time at IMS as a student?

CS: One of my favorite memories from my time at the Lower Campus was the reveal of the All School Lower Campus Theme. Each school year, I always looked forward to the big reveal! It was great getting to explore, create, and engage deeper into each of the themes and what they had to offer. As a classroom teacher, it is so rewarding and special that I now have a say in generating the themes for us to explore each year.

IMS: Can you share a favorite memory from your first school year teaching?

CS: This year, for Grandparents and Special Friends Day, the ECC worked hard on producing their very own production of ‘Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?’ It was so fun and engaging to get to work on creating costumes with the ECC students!

IMS: What are you looking forward to next school year?

CS: This fall, my family and I will be moving on campus! We are thrilled to be even more a part of the IMS community, and I am excited for the opportunity to be more involved in residential and dorm life.

IMS: What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self, knowing what you know now as an IMS faculty member?

CS: Be spontaneous and don’t overthink — there are fun adventures all around, sometimes you just have to dive right in and create the magic yourself!