An Interview With Dean Valdez and Assistant Dean Patterson

By Abby Pyrdom ‘23 and Katie Fracchia ‘23

Recently, we had the privilege of interviewing the St. Agnes Academy Upper School’s new Dean and Assistant Dean about themselves and their plans for their first year in these new roles. Known for her calm demeanor and signature purple lipstick, Dean Valdez is an influential role model for the Upper School girls at SAA and has been for many years. Although she graduated from Collierville High School, Dean Valdez feels as if she has always been a part of the SAA family. Throughout her teaching career, she has taught a variety of subjects, but her love for English has been evident since childhood. She says her passion for English stems from a love of writing and being surrounded by books, as her mother was an avid reader when Dean Valdez was growing up. She also recalls setting up a makeshift classroom and inviting other children from her neighborhood to her house to “teach” them. For Assistant Dean Patterson, Saint Agnes has been part of her life since high school. She enjoyed her time at her "second home" so much that she came back to teach history and psychology.

The foundation of their careers is not only a shared love for education, but also compassion for students. Mrs. Patterson says one of her biggest inspirations for teaching was her French teacher and the Upper School’s former Dean, Joy Maness. Mrs. Maness provided a supportive and uplifting environment that allowed students to feel safe and understood. Dean Valdez says one of her inspirations was when a teacher took care of her when she was sick in eighth grade. The teacher’s concern for her student’s well-being showed Dean Valdez that empathy and care are just as important as education.

While recognizing their influences from the past, Dean Valdez and Mrs. Patterson have many new ideas that are being put into action in the Upper School. The Dean is excited to introduce changes in the curriculum and ways to reimagine service, all in the name of success. Mrs. Patterson says she hopes to bring “new energy into old traditions” that make SAA special and unique. This includes annual dances, Spirit Week, and many other activities. When asked what her favorite thing about St. Agnes is, Mrs. Patterson said, “If you want just one thing, I don’t know what I would give you!” Dean Valdez’s response to the same question was, “In this position as Dean, I’ll get to know all of the students in some capacity. Here, it’s a community, and it’s a family, and that’s why I love it.”

In each of their answers to our questions, there was one overarching theme: positivity. They hope the student body of our school will be defined by sisterhood. "Positivity is the word for the year," said Dean Valdez, and after the unusual 2020-2021 school year, positivity is just what we need!