This week’s Teacher/Staff Spotlight is focused on Ms. Tatnall. Her unique career path and diverse interests will be covered in this story.
Ms. Tatnall currently serves as the college counselor at Sallies, assisting students with their college planning and applications. In addition to her counseling duties, she plays an active role in campus life by helping organize events such as Homecoming and co-moderates the Model UN club with Mrs. Potts.
Her work before Salesianum included being the director of college counseling at Saint Mark’s High School and having an eight stint as an undergraduate admissions counselor at the University of Delaware. But her journey didn’t start in education. Ms. Tatnall’s first career was in television news. She worked as a news producer in Boston, Baltimore, and Hartford, before making the decision to move to education.“I wanted to make a difference in students’ lives,” she shares, reflecting on her decision to leave the fast-paced world of news after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. “That event made me reassess my life and career,” she says. “It was time for a change, and I’m so glad I returned home to Delaware.”
A Delaware native, Ms. Tatnall returned to the First State after her time away from the First State. “It was a tough transition, but it was also an opportunity to pursue something new. Coming home was the right choice, and I’m proud to be back,” she reflects. She’s a proud graduate of both Mississippi State University for her undergraduate in Communication and Journalism and the University of Delaware for her MBA in Concentration in strategic leadership.
Besides her numerous roles at Salesianum, Ms. Tatnall is very active off campus. One of her recent hobbies, which she described as unexpected, is kickboxing at a circuit training gym nearby daily. Ms. Tatnall also enjoys quiet walks and hikes with her 7-year-old Maltipoo Maverick. Her Sundays are reserved for coffee at the nearby The Sleeping Bird Coffee coffee house and then a stroll through the local parks with Maverick. “He’s a bundle of energy,” she says.
Ms. Tatnall is also an avid reader and recommends The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. “It’s a beautifully written story with deep, meaningful themes. It’s one of those books that really stays with you.”
Whether in the classroom, the gym, or out on a weekend hike, Ms. Tatnall brings energy, passion, and dedication to everything she does. We are so lucky to have her in the Sallies community.
Stay tuned for more additions to the weekly teacher spotlight.
