Katherine (Missy) Harrington
(Curriculum Director)

Missy Harrington, and her husband Jack, have played a critical role in the creation and success of the SHUMLA School. It is through the generous donation of 70 acres of their ranch land that the School's campus was realized. Missy continues her vital contributions to the School by serving as a program instructor, and even more importantly, in her position as Curriculum Director. She uses her thirty-plus years of teaching experience while developing the curricula used in every school program. Her passion for teaching and knowledge of requirements faced by school administrators ensures that topics and procedures present specific concepts in math and science, geared towards meeting Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) objectives. The SHUMLA School campus provides Missy with a rich setting for designing lessons using a wide range of subjects, from principles of earth science to the application of prehistoric technology, as well as creating a learning environment that powerfully motivates kids to love science. In addition, the activities advance SHUMLA's goal of connecting people with their environment and cultural heritage. Her caring and love of teaching is obvious to all who meet her.

Missy was born into a ranching family in Comstock, Texas. She attended school in Comstock—kindergarten through graduation from High School—and received her BA in Biology at the University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, in 1968. Married, and teaching, she earned an MA in Education from Sul Ross University, Alpine, Texas, in 1977.

Missy taught in Del Rio, Texas, for three years, then in her hometown of Comstock, for twenty-eight years, until her retirement in 2000. During those years Missy taught the following: 6^th grade to 12^th grade science; chemistry; physics; life science; earth science; physical science (IPC integrated physics and chemistry); biology I; honors biology; meteorology; anatomy and physiology; algebra I; 7th grade math; laboratory management; computer literacy; web design; and probably a few more besides. She brings all this experience to creating SHUMLA School's curriculum. In addition, during many programs she leads life and earth science activities, having students examine and describe a variety of items with stereoscopic viewers. During some of the longer programs, students have even participated in dissecting and studying fish.