Kathy taught choral music at Puyallup High School and three junior high schools, served as district music coordinator and later, the district arts coordinator. She was a member of the OSPI Arts Assessment Leadership Team, a WMEA board administration curriculum officer, in-service provider and conference presenter. She was chosen the 2006 Valley region Outstanding Music Educator, and worked on the boards of Valley Arts United, the Tacoma Philharmonic, Inc., and the Green River Community College Arts Search and Inquiry.