Teacher Spotlight: Katie Gutierrez Bakes Up Holiday Joy

Our Indiana Gateway Digital Academy (INGDA) teachers consistently step up to support students and families in meaningful ways beyond the classroom.

Baking Together to Give Back

This holiday season, high school math teacher Katie Gutierrez carried this passion into her kitchen, turning her family’s love for baking into an opportunity to create holiday magic for families in need.

Katie and her daughters, ages 6 and 8, hosted a bake sale to raise money to donate to school holiday gift drives. Over the course of the fundraiser, they sold several dozen cookies, apple and pumpkin pies, and banana breads.

“I try to teach my girls how fun and rewarding it can be to give back by taking something we already love doing together and turning it into an opportunity to support the community,” Katie shared.

Her family donated the majority of their proceeds to INGDA’s Dragon Drop, an annual drive that has supported anonymous INGDA families experiencing financial hardship during the holiday season for the past six years. Our Dragon Drop committee raises money through staff contributions to fulfill wish lists for each family.

Supporting Families Through the INGDA Dragon Drop

Every year, we identify families in need through teacher and counselor submissions and select one family from each school at INDGA (elementary, middle, and high school), one family from Indiana Gateway Alternative School (INGAS), and one staff member’s family. Last year, the drive supported a staff member’s family that was affected by the devastating hurricane in North Carolina.

In addition to her monetary contributions, Katie is one of four elves on the Dragon Drop committee this year. Each Elf wraps and delivers gifts to one of the families to ensure their wish list is fulfilled ahead of the holidays.

For Katie, working virtually creates an opportunity for her to devote more time to supporting the community through volunteering opportunities like the Dragon Drop committee. Without a daily commute, she can prioritize her work-life balance and be more present for both her own family and her students.

“Teaching at INGDA allows me the flexibility to spend more time volunteering with my family and making an impact for those in need,” Katie said.

Katie and her fellow teachers are the foundation of our supportive INGDA community, committed to uplifting every student and their family. We focus on nurturing not only academic success but emotional well-being by empowering students and their Learning Coaches through connection and individualized support.

If you are interested in joining our community, learn more about enrollment options.

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