Meet Cathy Ames

We are kicking off our 50th anniversary interview series by celebrating our longest serving staff member, the amazing Cathy Ames!

Cathy started at the Camden campus of Wayfinder in 2000, when it was still known as The Community School. She began as a residential program tutor and over the years she has bonded with hundreds of students as their culinary instructor, English tutor, overnight counselor, and Passages teacher. Chef-poet-mom-artist-teacher extraordinaire, Cathy is a beloved member of the Wayfinder family. And did we mention she manages the Wayfinder food pantry as well? We simply can't imagine Wayfinder without her.

We recently interviewed Cathy to kick off our 50th year celebrations.

WS: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

CA: I wanted to be a truck driver when I was real young, then I read about George Muller and thought of running an orphanage. I did a lot of babysitting and worked at a daycare center so that changed that idea quickly. In high school I thought a pastry chef would be a fun career. I took a few writing courses and decided that writing was my thing, so I guess teaching isn't so far from that. 

WS: What was your first job?

CA: My first job was working at a day care center, unless you count seasonal things like raking blueberries.

WS: Where did you grow up? What did you like about high school? What would you tell yourself now?

CA: I grew up in the same house I own now in West Rockport. I feel very happy that my children sleep in the same bedrooms I did as a child, and have swings on the same trees, and swim in the same pond. I liked my friends in high school, hanging out and laughing about silly stuff until our stomachs ached. I liked all my English classes and Philosophy. I also liked the practical life classes like Consumer Survival and Child Development and Sewing, classes that are rarely taught in school now, but are all things that are important to learn. I am very glad that our curriculum incorporates these in, as well as the core academic subjects. 

WS: Who was one of your favorite teachers and why?

CA: My favorite teacher, hands down, was Mr. Moro! He taught English. I had him for "Drama as Literature." I loved that class and the subject matter. What I loved most was Mr. Moro's compassion for the students and his passion about what he was teaching. When I finally decided to go to college, it was Mr. Moro who I aspired to be. I thought if I could be a teacher half as good as he was, I would make a difference in people’s lives. 

WS: What do you like best about your job?

CA: I like forming relationships with the students and then working within that relationship to help them achieve goals. That way we both are achieving something. It’s a win-win.

WS: What do you wish everyone knew about Wayfinder?

CA: I wish more people could see the change in a student from the first meeting with their teacher to the more confident person they become when they are handed that state of Maine certified high school diploma.

WS: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

CA: Spare time? That is funny. I guess I would say that if we had spare time, at the same time, I would like hanging out with my best friend, Charlene. I do make time to go camping in the summer with family and friends. I also like sitting at the beach when I have time. In the winter I get into cooking some. I like to make up recipes and see how many different things I can turn leftovers into.  

WS: What is something most people don't know about you?

CA: I am pretty much an open book and don't mind putting myself out there so a lot of people probably know a lot about me. So if there is something you want to know just ask me. 

WS: What are your hopes for the new year?

CA: I have three students that are really close to graduating, so I want to help guide them through and see what comes next for them. What I want for the rest of my students is to work at the best of their abilities and continue to have strong relationships with them.

5 Quick Facts About You

What is your favorite Maine spot?

It is hard to say a favorite spot, I like my town. I like camping at Moosehead Lake. I like sitting on the rocks and listening to the waves crash up nearly anywhere along the coast. 

What is your favorite Maine food?

Cranberry duffs with molasses sauce. Grammy's secret recipe. I like lobster but not the mess of it, so I have my token lobster roll each summer. 

Favorite sound? Favorite smell? 

If you asked my children what their mother's favorite smell was they would probably say in unison "Wood smoke and Bug Dope." I love that smell when you take your first shower after camping in the woods for a week and your skin still smells like the campfire you have been marinating in all week. And there is enough citronella on your skin that if you could squeeze it out you could make a candle for next year. When they start selling air fresheners of that I'm buying stock. 

What are you watching right now?

I mostly watch The Food Network, but I did binge Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why this summer so I could join conversations with my second batch of children. 

What are you reading right now?

Right now I am taking an art history college class so I am reading my text book. Art Through the Ages.