Katie Mason fosters learning and love as Straub Elementary School principal

Katie (Moran) Mason (08) looks back fondly on her years as a young student in middle school. In her newest role, she plans to take the lead to help elementary school students have a successful and stimulating educational experience.  

Mason is the principal of Straub Elementary School in Mason County, a role made possible through her education at Morehead State University.  

Growing up in Ewing, Mason always knew she wanted to work with children. She attended MSU initially majoring in agribusiness but quickly changed her major to middle grades education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Middles Grade Education, Math and Social Studies, in 2008. The student-teaching experience at MSU led to her first teaching job with Mason County Public Schools. She said her MSU experience inside and outside of the classroom was invaluable to her personally and professionally.  

"I cannot say enough wonderful things about Morehead. I attended MSU in the fall of 2004, joined the Kappa Delta sorority in 2005, and my experiences and friendships that I made while there have molded me into the person I am today," Mason said. "I teach my students each and every day that no matter what goals in life they set for themselves, they must work their hardest to achieve these."  

Mason first worked at Mason County Middle School, teaching mathematics in 6-8 grades for 12 years. During that time, she continued her education by earning a master's degree in instructional education with a principal certificate in 2013 and a Rank I Educational Leadership with a Director of Pupil Personnel Certificate in 2019, both from the University of the Cumberlands.  

In May of 2020, she was hired as the assistant principal of Straub Elementary School. In February of this year, after an illness with COVID-19, the school's principal stepped down. Mason took over as interim principal and was hired as the full-time principal in March.  

"Working with kids has always been my passion. I loved my classroom and I love my role now," Mason said. "In administration, I actually get the best of both worlds in teaching both kids and coaching and collaborating with adults. We have an amazing staff who value and love our kids, thus making my job exciting and extremely rewarding."      

Mason said Straub Elementary currently has 96% in-person attendance. She said regardless of the circumstances, she wants to lead a school where both love of learning and loving students are the highest values.  

"We have built a culture of continuous learning with a safe and healthy environment. I want each student to leave our building and remember the love that their teachers gave them, the support and drive that was instilled in them, to try their hardest and to do their best," she said. "At the end of the day, as long as they tried their best, we know they are (Mason County) Royal Rockstars!"  

For more information about MSU's Volgenau College of Education and its programs, call 606-783-2162 or visit www.moreheadstate.edu/education.