From department head, to 9th grade dean, to head of the upper school, to chemistry teacher, to biology teacher, to filling the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) chair Catherine Renaud has occupied various positions throughout Greenhills. However after 36 years of teaching, 24 of which were at Greenhills, Renaud has officially declared her retirement. She is looking forward to what this next chapter will look like.
“I never thought I would teach to be honest,” said Renaud. “I remember sitting in my senior year chemistry class and my teacher was yelling and screaming at us, and I thought ‘why would anyone want to teach, especially this subject?’ Later on, he hired me for my first job.”
While initially she said didn’t think she wanted a career in education, Renaud was known in her high school class for being able to teach her fellow classmates lessons they didn’t understand. Her senior superlative was even “known for taking good notes” because everyone would borrow her notebook.
“At first I thought I wanted to be a jet pilot, that was before I realized my eyes weren’t good enough,” said Renaud. “Then, I wanted to be a vet before I learned about parasites, and I thought of archaeology but they have to be outside in the heat a lot so that didn’t work for me.”
While bouncing between ideas, everything clicked for Renaud in graduate school at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario where she won a teaching award for being a graduate assistant. In her post graduate years she returned to her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. She taught for a year within the Hamilton school system before moving to the United States and taught at a school in Virginia for five years. When she moved to Michigan she taught at the University Liggett School for three years, Eastern Michigan University for a handful of years as lab coordinator and lecturer, and one year at Ypsilanti High School.
“It was basically just a ‘3-2-1’ countdown to Greenhills,” said Renaud. “I was aware of the school because of Luanne Booth, one of the wives of a colleague of my husband. When we first arrived in Michigan she was the head of the middle school, I always knew I wanted to work here. It just took a while for there to be an opening.”
Some of Renaud’s favorite memories are when her sons, Cal and Alex, attended Greenhills. While she did not teach her eldest son she had her youngest in Intro to Biology in 9th grade.
“One of the ways we overlapped is that I taught Renaud’s youngest son Alex,” said Bridget Maldonado, middle school dean of students and science teacher. “And now Renaud is teaching my daughter, Quinn Maldonado ‘28. This is one of the professional and personal ways our lives entwine.”
Renaud acted as Maldonado’s first mentor when she arrived at Greenhills. Coming from a public school prior, the adjustment to how Greenhills functions was a new experience for Maldonado.
“Something that I feel not everyone would know about Renaud is that she is extremely silly,” said Maldonado. “She is good at recognizing tough moments and keeping everything lighthearted and fun to raise everyone’s spirits. However, besides being able to read when someone needs some silliness, she is able to recognize when anyone needs to vent or receive advice. We’re losing somebody who deeply cares about our students, her colleagues, and the institution as a whole.”
Maldonado is not the only to experience sadness over Renaud retiring. Howei Ding ‘25 one of Renaud’s former students shares his thoughts on her leaving Greenhills.
“My first interaction with Renaud was freshman year Bio,” said Howei Ding ‘25. “After that year I didn’t have any more classes taught by her but I still made an effort to remain close with her, mainly by visiting her during most lunches to share some jolly ranchers and catch up.”
Renaud has decided to retire due to various reasons, however, her decision began with a desire to spend more time with her family.
“My husband and I have a house in Ontario,” said Renaud. “We returned to Canada, where we are originally from, two years ago. One of my sons lives there full time so we have just been splitting out time here by spending weekends in Canada. We want to be there full time and to do some other travel while we’re healthy and able.”
As Renaud leaves the school students and faculty will remember her not only for the person she is but the memories her Intro to Biology class has created.
“One of my favorite memories in her class was during the self-study biology unit,” said Ding. “The assignment was to write a paper report on something you liked, so, three weeks later I handed in a 30 page essay about bananas, and she still has it. She told me she has shown it to every class she’s had since then. I also enjoyed our hot chocolate days during the winter. While it makes me sad that future generations of students won’t get to experience her class, I actually find it kind of nice that she’s retiring the same year we are graduating.”
Besides leaving a lasting impression on the current students Renaud’s Intro to Biology and spirit has stuck with recent graduates as well. This past March, Renaud was invited by Gabe Seir ‘20 to be his representative for his most influential secondary school teacher. Seir was able to invite Renaud due to winning an award for his academic excellence at Stanford University.
“I received a call one day and it was randomly Gabe,” said Renaud. “He told me he had some exciting news and then filled me in about the award and invited me out. I was so surprised but it ended up being a really sweet event.”
As Renaud leaves Greenhills she hopes that students not only remember what she has taught them in class but what they can gain from school in general.
“I hope my students have realized that learning is fun,” said Renaud. “And that it really is okay to know something because we can figure it out together. I hope students realize that Greenhills is a beautiful place that provides this type of connection.”
