English teacher Meg Kasprak has taught for over 30 years, 23 of which she spent at KO and has been the faculty advisor for epic, the yearbook, and Student Government. She has gone to Paraguay, South America and back with KO students, advised, taught all Upper School grades with the exception of sophomores. Now, she is departing from the KO community for good.
“I would like to have a long and healthy retirement and be young enough to enjoy it,” she said.
Once Mrs. Kasprak is fully free of grading papers and handing out vocabulary quizzes, she said she wants her days spent on traveling adventures, exercising, visiting friends and family she has not seen in a while, skiing, reading at her leisure, and spending more time with her husband.
Mrs. Kasprak said she might also take Spanish or a cooking class.“At the beginning, I don’t want any constraints,” she said.For travel locations, Mrs. Kasprak said she would like to go to Patagonia and far South America.
Mrs. Kasprak majored in English at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, obtained her Masters degree in English at Trinity College in Hartford, and Master degree in education at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn.
After teaching for four years in Connecticut, Mrs. Kasprak taught for a year in Northern Vermont. Then, she nestled into KO for 23 years as an English teacher and her last four as English Department Chair.
Once retired, Mrs. Kasprak said she will probably move at some point, maybe to Maine. “I’ve been living in Connecticut for about 40 years,” she said. “CT is good, but I’m looking for something new.”
Mrs. Kasprak said she would consider going back to work for short segments but right now is looking forward to having no plans. “I want to wake up and think: ‘What do want to do today?’” she said. “And do it.”
At the start of her career, Mrs. Kasprak said she chose to teach English because she liked literature and knew she liked kids. Overall, her favorite classes to teach were her Shakespeare elective and her junior classes.
Mrs. Kasprak said she will miss her colleagues and students most. “I’m afraid I’ll get really boring without all my students around to keep me young,” she said.
William Shakespeare said that “parting is such sweet sorrow” in his play “Romeo and Juliet,” and Mrs. Kasprak agrees. “I will miss KO,” she said. “It’s been a good run.”
