This spring, Kent School bids farewell to Mrs. Moreno, a longtime English teacher and advisor whose 28-year journey has left an indelible mark on the community. Known for her dedication to writing instruction and her decades of leadership in the Yearbook club, Mrs. Moreno’s work has quietly shaped how students reflect, express, and remember. “Writing has always been my passion,” she said. “I love helping students become better writers and better thinkers.”
Mrs. Moreno arrived at Kent in 1997 to teach English as a Second Language. “At that time, we had three levels of ESL because so many students needed support,” she recalled. As incoming students’ language proficiency improved, she transitioned to teaching English I. She was also the timer for girls’ soccer and field hockey.
Mrs. Campbell, English Department Head, remembers Mrs. Moreno not only as a thoughtful colleague but as someone who brought intention and warmth into every aspect of her teaching. “Her classroom environment is incredibly welcoming, filled with plants, board games, and collages,” she said. “Mrs. Moreno is such a creative teacher. She always treats her students with warmth, patience, and kindness. She invests so much effort into her class: caring for her students as they are and helping them craft their own voice.”
When asked what values guided her, Mrs. Moreno did not hesitate: “Fairness. I want students to see me as someone who listens.” She regularly invited students to discuss their grades and feedback, creating a classroom built on dialogue and trust. “If a student thinks I wasn’t fair on an assignment, I want them to come talk to me.” Her teaching evolved with time and technology. In recent years, she increased in-class writing to meet challenges posed by AI tools. “I think I’ve come to a good understanding with my students,” she said. “They know they have to do their own thinking.”
Mrs. Moreno began advising the yearbook in 1998, working on it every year until recently handing it over to Mrs. Kurish. “When I started, everything was on paper with printed photos. It was much more complicated,” she laughed. Over time, technology changed the process, but not the dedication. “Most people don’t realize how much work goes into the yearbook. It’s a lot, but it’s worth it.”
Looking ahead, Mrs. Moreno plans to spend more time with her grandson, travel, garden, and return to a personal passion: collage art; however, she leaves Kent with deep gratitude. “I’m proud that students remember me, say hello, and respect me. That means something.”
Mrs. Moreno’s legacy at Kent is measured not just in essays marked or pages published, but in the relationships she built and the quiet, steady care she gave to every student and story. As she enters a new chapter, her years of teaching, guiding, and creating will continue to shape the school’s memory.
