Kathryn Rayburn was born Sept. 23, 1935, in Durand, Wis., where she graduated from high school. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's from Wisconsin State University in Eau Claire. Prior to coming to Rochester, she taught English and French for two years in Manitowoc, Wis., and English at Muskego, Wis., for four years. She began teaching English at Rochester High School in 1963, transferring to Mayo in 1966 where she helped found the Block Program. She retired from Mayo High School in 1996. Her past service also included being chairperson of the English Department at Mayo.
Beside classroom teaching, her primary professional work has been in standards and licensure. This effort has involved work at local, regional, state and national levels and has included two terms on the Minnesota Board of Teaching (chairman, first five); vice presidency of a national association of standards and practices boards; chairmanship of MEA Task Force on Teacher Evaluation and Performance Criteria; training and participation in NCATE and NCA accreditation teams; and local service on district and REA committees (professional standards, evaluation, personnel policies and procedures, negotiations, continuing education and curriculum). Kathryn has been consultant to Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishers for an English textbook series and member of the Board of Teaching Task Force to revise English Language Arts licensure rules. She has received awards from REA, MEA, NEA, two Minnesota governors, and was one of the first recipients of the Rochester YWCA's "Woman of Achievement" award.
A former employer said, "When Kathy enters a room it's as if someone turned on all the lights." She still brings this brightness into the lives of her family and friends.
