Volunteer Spotlight: Kirsten Kyllingstad & Kate Steen

At French International, we are proud to have parents dedicated to positively shaping our school and enriching the lives of our students. Volunteering involves the entire family in a student’s educational life. Additionally, service is part of the IB educational philosophy as we teach students that we have a shared responsibility to our connected global community. 

Kirsten Kyllingstad oversaw the fifth-grade graduation, and Kate Steen oversaw the eighth-grade graduation. Both worked with committees to make the events successful. Kirsten took the lead on decor, slide show, teacher gifts, and reception. Kate did the same for eighth grade, but also oversaw the planning and execution of the field trip to Oaks Park and the eighth-grade breakfast. 

Kirsten, mother of Leif Glick, joined the French International community in 2018 when Leif started prekindergarten. The Steen family joined in 2021 when Tristan ('23) entered seventh grade. His brother Kayden joined in 2022 for sixth grade and just graduated last week!

What drew you to volunteering for graduation? 

Kyllingstad: One of the things with me is that, working as a flight attendant, I’m allowed to be more open to big projects than someone with a more standard schedule. It’s really important for me to make memories for the kids, and I want them all to have a great experience. I know I have more capacity than the average person, so I was excited to take on something with so many moving parts. That’s very much in my wheelhouse! 

Steen: It kind of fell into my lap for the class of 2023, which was the year my son Tristan graduated, but I’m so glad it did. That year, some changes were made from previous years, and I was able to help create the activities we now do for the graduates. It's been a lot of fun to have a role in making the eighth graders feel celebrated for their accomplishments. I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered this year for my son Kayden’s class. Having done it before made it a lot easier to execute the second time around.

What do you enjoy most about your role as a volunteer? Any particularly fond memories? 

Steen: I really enjoy being around the students and teachers and getting to know them. In middle school, parents aren’t as involved as they are in elementary school, so you don’t get to know the kids or teachers in the same way. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to bridge that gap. One of my fondest memories is volunteering for outdoor school with my son Tristan’s seventh-grade class. Because of COVID, they went a year late, and in the spring. It was absolutely freezing, but I had such a good time. I was responsible for a cabin of the sweetest girls, and I got to know Tristan’s class, including all of his friends. I also connected more with the teachers and made some parent friends, too!

Kyllingstad: I absolutely love volunteering at the school. I love being on campus, I love getting to see my son (Leif Glick, fifth) and say hi to him. He’s super happy to see me -- at least for now! When he was in pre-K, I used to volunteer at the library just before his class time. I didn’t want to be a distraction to him or the teacher, but I got to see him as I was leaving, and he was coming in. He was so excited to see me, and it was so fun. When I was in elementary school, we were a tiny school, so my mom would drive us on field trips. She would bring snacks and drive silly, and I truly treasure those memories and experiences with my mom. I want those same things for Leif. I’ve volunteered for just about every field trip, I’ve served as room parent and Parent Partnership chair, and visited classrooms to talk about my work as a flight attendant and ASL interpreter. I’ve gotten to know the kids in Leif’s class so well, I’ve known most of them since they were four years old - the last seven years! I love knowing who he goes to school with. 

What message would you like to share with our community about the importance of volunteers at French International? 

Kyllingstad: I don’t think that the school could be what it is - or have the potential to be what it will be - without volunteers. There’s lots of things to do, for all types of personalities. If you’re not a forward-facing person, there are roles for you, too. But there’s so many things that are just so visually impactful for the kids. To be a role model and help out, they see their lessons play out in real life. You make connections with not just your kid, but also all the other students. It makes us a community, not just a place with teachers and students. I feel like I’m part of the community, right along with all those kids.

Steen: I believe volunteering is important because it fosters a sense of community and belonging. Through volunteering, I was able to connect with others and truly feel like I was a part of the school. It also sets a positive example for our kids and directly supports the school. Without volunteers, many of the activities and events that enrich the school experience simply wouldn’t be possible. 

Thank you, Kate and Kirsten, for all your hard work!