Seniors aren’t the only ones leaving this May. English teacher Kaitlin Hardeman, who has been a part of the Trojan family for 6 years, will also be departing.

She was born in Salinas, California, and attended Oscar Loya and Bardin Elementary. Her mom was an immigrant from the Philippines and she was always a hard worker. “She always inspired me to work hard so I could have a better life,” she said. 

Hardeman had to change schools when her parents bought a house in Seaside during her 5th grade year. She placed fourth in her class when she graduated from Seaside high school in 2013.

Once she graduated high school, she attended UC Berkeley in 2013 and majored in Human Communication with a focus in English Subject Matter Preparation. 

In 2015, she moved to MPC because she did not receive a lot of financial aid, which made her return home to save money. “At UC Berkeley, I didn’t have a plan, I was undeclared and even failed classes,” she said. 

While at MPC, she had her son in 2016, giving her a sense of motivation. She was having a difficult time choosing the right path, but the arrival of her son gave her a purpose to be more thoughtful about what she would do next. “I knew I wanted to get a job that would allow me a stable career and yet still have free time to spend with him,” Hardeman said. 

She was unsure of what to do, but she always knew English was her favorite subject. When she attended CSUMB, she noticed they had a teaching program that was allied with districts in the area. “I thought it was a natural fit to become a high school English teacher,” Hardeman said. 

She worked at Alisal as an English teacher for a year in 2021. During this time, her parents had retired in Florida, which had an impact on Hardeman. Her parents motivated her to follow and move to Florida as well, so she ended up moving the following year and she bought a home.

Unfortunately, her job wasn’t what she expected, she was teaching sophomores instead of juniors, which she had at Alisal. She contacted Ms. Ayala and asked if there was a spot open for her and she said yes. “Seeing a different culture and expectations had me in a shock,” she said.

The next school year she moved back to Salinas. She enjoys the community the school builds and she finds the world to be small, since one of her students’ grandma was her elementary teacher. “The community we have here is like no other, they’re very easy to relate to,” she said.

Despite her loving the school, she got the opportunity to teach at a great school, and with her parents getting older, she feels it’s important to be nearby to support them. 

Hardeman is embarking on an exciting new chapter. It’s a chance for her to flourish in a new environment where she will continue to inspire those around her. 

During her time working with the Trojans, she found immense joy in her work and cherished her students. However, she has decided that this move is the best for her family. 

She will deeply miss her students and the classroom environment she helped create. The connections she has made with her students will always hold a special place in her heart. “I’m hoping to come back next year to visit and attend their graduation,” she said.

“My message to the class of 2027, my juniors, is just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean it’s the end, now it’s your turn to blossom, spread your wings, and become the butterflies you’re meant to be,” she said.