When Fountain Valley School opened its doors to female students in 1976, it marked a turning point in school history, one that forever changed the culture of the Prairie. Among those pioneering young women was Kathy Kardok ’77, whose connection to FVS ran deep even before her first day of class.

“My father, Don Kardok, was the athletic director,” she recalls. “I was invited to attend as the school was going co-ed. I was attending Colorado Springs School and had my doubts about being one of very few girls, but luckily my friend Susan Williams was also making the leap.”

Once on campus, Kathy quickly discovered that being one of the first female students came with both challenges and rewards. “It was a unique experience. Sometimes I was the only girl in a group project,” she said. “But I never felt it was difficult to make friends. The girls were kind, and we were all sharing something new together. We formed a special connection.”

Kathy embraced every opportunity that came her way, especially in athletics. “I was so happy to participate in field hockey, swimming, basketball, and tennis,” she said. “It was a memorable experience to help shape the school’s environment and show that diversity in gender could truly enhance the learning community."

While there were occasional concerns about how coeducation might change the school’s traditions or athletic programs, Kathy remembers the overall mood as positive. “There may have been some resistance from those proud of the school’s all-boys history,” she said. “But most people welcomed the change. I felt supported by both students and faculty.”

Kathy fondly recalls the teachers who influenced her both as a student and later as a faculty member herself. “Mr. Patterson, my advisor, was very supportive. He saw my strengths even when my grades didn’t always show them,” she said. “My senior year tennis coach, Jake Emery, saw me as a leader. Mrs. Johnston, my field hockey coach, and her husband, my college advisor, were both mentors who shaped how I would later teach.”

Other classes left a lasting impression as well. “I loved Mr. Thorp’s class where we had to design a city… and Mr. Emery’s course where we read E.B. White,” she remembered. But one course in particular set the tone for her life’s work. “In Mr. Phillips’ music appreciation class, I discovered my love of classical music,” Kathy said. “And through my Senior Seminar, volunteering at a local Head Start program, I found my passion for education, which became my lifelong career.”

The relationships Kathy formed at FVS also reflected the compassion of her peers. “I remember one day I was walking to class feeling a little down,” she said. “Two seniors, Derek Premac and Al Rogers, noticed and came over to cheer me up. That simple act of kindness stayed with me.”

Looking back, Kathy takes pride in being part of a pivotal moment in FVS history, one that proved coeducation could strengthen and enrich the school in lasting ways. As the 50th anniversary of coeducation at FVS approaches, she’s eager to reconnect, reflect on shared memories, and celebrate the lives and stories that have unfolded since their time on the Prairie.