For 17 years, Katie Finnegan has been dedicated to helping students prepare for success both inside and outside the classroom as an educator at Wyoming Valley West School District. After years of teaching World History, she recently began teaching a Career Exploration course for seniors, where students explore career pathways while developing essential workplace skills, including resume writing, cover letters, interview preparation, and professional soft skills. Preparing students for success beyond high school has become one of her greatest passions as an educator.

According to her nominator, one example of Katie's innovative approach was organizing a trip for students to visit Luzerne County Community College while incorporating lessons on navigating public transportation along the way. As her nominator shared, this initiative not only taught practical life skills but also encouraged students to see themselves as capable of pursuing higher education and future career opportunities. Through Katie's encouragement and leadership, students became more confident in stepping outside of their comfort zones and embracing new experiences.

Katie leads by example, demonstrating reliability and transparency in her interactions with students, families, and community partners. Her nominator noted that she continuously advocates for her students, often going above and beyond her responsibilities to ensure they have access to meaningful educational and career-building experiences.

Her commitment extends well beyond the classroom through strong partnerships with educators, colleges, employers, and community organizations. Katie actively collaborates with colleagues, Luzerne County Community College, Building Blocks Learning Center, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) to create meaningful opportunities that benefit her students and support shared community goals. She understands the importance of building strong partnerships to help students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences and future career pathways.

Through her dedication to workforce readiness, experiential learning, and community collaboration, Katie continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of her students while helping build a stronger, more resilient Greater Wyoming Valley.

Make sure to join us as we celebrate Katie Finnegan and all of our award recipients at the STARS of the Valley Awards on Friday, July 17, at the Westmoreland Club's Grand Hall!

Tickets are on sale now at: https://business.wyomingvalleychamber.org/chambercalendar/Details/2026-stars-of-the-valley-awards-1621058?sourceTypeId=Website