Here at Castaic High School, we are home to many amazingly talented teachers and staff members that help students learn and prepare for their future outside of the classroom. One of the most influential teachers on the Castaic campus is AP Environmental Science and AP Biology teacher, Kate Song, who was recognized as the 2024-2025 Castaic Teacher of the Year. Song has been teaching for 19 years, four of those years at Castaic, where she has helped many students dive deeper into STEM subjects in order to prepare them for future careers. Although Song’s journey through teaching included its hardships, it’s clear that the Song’s recognition is well deserved.
Song began studying at the University of Chicago as Pre-Med, then earned her masters in Biology and teaching credentials at California State University, Los Angeles.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do medicine or if I wanted to pursue research,” stated Song. “So, I got a masters in biology, did some research, and while I was researching, I started teaching. And I loved teaching… so I stuck with teaching!”
She began teaching right out of undergrad in Tempe, Arizona at a charter school as a way to earn an income while continuing her studies and later began teaching at Santa Monica High School. Becoming a teacher allowed Song to not only teach her favorite subjects, but also allowed her to form a family and constantly stay connected to them.
“I love the study of biology, especially at the college level. Teaching the AP Bio course and now the Environmental Science course, I find it really fascinating,” states Song. “I get to communicate what I love to students and hopefully do it in a way that they can understand and appreciate.”
“Besides that, I also, this is kind of selfish, but I like the lifestyle. I get to go home and be with my family, I get vacations off.”
“You want to have a lifestyle that you are comfortable with and that you can like, you know, that can keep you happy for long. And teaching is like that. It’s a good balance for me. I get to contribute to the community, I get to teach what I love, and then I also get to be home with my family.”
However, teaching was not always the easiest. Song explained how different it felt between her credential classes compared to an active classroom.
“My first few years in the classroom, I was actually going to quit teaching. They put you in the classes that nobody wants, and those are tough because as a new teacher, you don’t really know how to manage students.”
On top of struggling with her classes, Song struggled as a mom with younger children while also balancing her classes.
“You’re always in such high demand at home and then you’re in such high demand at work, you get tired a lot as a working mom,” explained Song.
Song learned quickly that in order to succeed in her teaching career, she had to stick to her rules and be stern rather than befriending her students, while also spending time grading assignments and assessments that have true value for the students.
After 19 years, Song transferred to Castaic High School from Santa Monica High School when a position opened up after the global COVID-19 pandemic was over.
“I love [Santa Monica]! Except the commute was awful,” she stated. “I live in Valencia so it was very difficult for me to commute.”
At Castaic, Song is more involved with the student body, the shorter commute allowing her to participate in school events and show her support for the students.
“I love Castaic. It’s a smaller school. I feel more connected to the students because I live closer now, so… I’m more involved in things like Science Olympiad, so I feel more connected to the community and more connected to kids.”
Her dedication to her classes and students does not go unnoticed. Junior Claire Angles took Song’s AP Biology class and is taking AP Environmental Science this year and has experienced nothing but a welcoming environment in Song’s class.
“Every time you go into a STEM class, it’s all sterile and you immediately want to leave. It’s not like that in her class,” explains Angles. “She’s passionate about what she does and she’s passionate about what she’s teaching… When you’re surrounded by that, then you’re only going to be able to reciprocate that energy.”
“She’s just so knowledgeable of what she teaches…[and] it’s truly so evident in the way that she teaches and in the way she lectures and in the way she allows you to fully understand the subject.”
Last year, Song received her first 100% pass rate on the AP Biology exam from her AP Biology students. On average, about 64.4% of students taking the AP Biology exam receive a passing grade of a 3 and above.
“That was actually one of my proudest moments as a teacher because that’s something you strive for and you hope for, but it like never happens,” explained Song. “But, last year, I just had one section, so that’s like a little disclaimer. I didn’t have like a hundred students. I had maybe 26 students take the test. They were really just hardworking and I pushed them all the way to the end.”
Apart from being an extremely passionate, knowledgeable, and caring teacher, Song holds a sweet spot for her hobbies. She loves her dogs and spends her free time pampering and taking care of them. Song also enjoys photography.
“I love photography. I used to own a business, I was really into photography. Now, I just do it for kind of pleasure.”
It is evident that the Teacher of the Year award is highlighting the right person. Song is a successful teacher and role model for both the new and old generations of Castaic High School students. Through her teaching, Song projects kindness and exceptional knowledge, encapsulating the positive impact that teachers have on their students.
