Mrs. Kathy Kotchick

School(s): Administration
Department(s): Administrative and Office Staff
Title(s): Head of School

Mrs. Kotchick is the Head of the French International School of Philadelphia. She joined the French International School in 1995 as a teacher, and later assumed an administrative role as English Program Coordinator, Director of Parent Relations, and Assistant Head of School. She co-led the school’s Reaccreditation Planning Team in 2014-2015 and, the following year, served as Interim Co-Head of School with Mrs. Catherine Kosman. Mrs. Kotchick believes that these experiences have given her the advantage of knowing each and every facet of the operation of the school, and have well prepared her to lead the school into its next chapter. On February 7, 2022, Mrs. Kotchick was appointed to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National du Merite for her commitment and service to education and French language and culture.

Raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania and educated at Loyola University of Baltimore, Mrs. Kotchick holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She began her career as a classroom teacher, technology coordinator, and in-service trainer in Baltimore County public schools before relocating to the Philadelphia area. She also has a certification in Leading for Excellence and Equity from Harvard University.

Mrs. Kotchick has been at the French International School for almost three decades, and she finds witnessing students developing a love and pride for bilingual communication an amazing gift. She says that being different is the norm at the school and that the students, teachers and staff embrace their differences. She finds the most exciting part of her role at the school is the opportunity to work with all the members of the school community and learn from them each day!

In her free moments, Mrs. Kotchick enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and taking time to travel.