Before coming to Great Hearts, Katy Monwai was no stranger to classical education. She began her teaching career at the Covenant School, where she says she had “fallen in love” with classical education, and thus began her master’s degree in humanities at the University of Dallas. “I met many Great Hearts folks at UD, and I was drawn to the opportunity to provide a classical education to the broader community,” she says. “I was also excited to be a part of opening a brand-new school.” She joined the Lakeside Great Hearts campus in Fort Worth as the founding Assistant Headmaster in 2020, and now prepares to step into her new role as Headmaster.
A key part of leadership, Ms. Monwai states, is maintaining perspective: “Much of leadership seems to be about ruling myself well, since, in the end, I’m the only one I can control!" Ms. Monwai says that working with a counselor, as well as the Great Hearts-sponsored Executive Coaching Series with Keith Merron, helped her "learn to rule myself better." She also credits other leaders, like Mandi Cannon, for helping her build what she calls her “leadership toolbox.” Looking forward to her upcoming role, Ms. Monwai is excited to influence her community and be “a part of something bigger than myself... It’s been very rewarding to see how the Lakeside campus has filled a gap in the educational options in southwest Fort Worth and to know that parents are so grateful for the opportunity to have their kids here.” Another perk of the job? “I’m also excited to be able to choose the art for the walls!”
