February 2025
By Litzy Moreno, Staff Reporter
At KIPP Austin Collegiate, there’s one educator who has quickly become a familiar face and an inspiring force for students and staff alike: Ms. Garrighan. Having joined the KIPP community in 2021, she’s brought not just her expertise but her passion for teaching and mentoring to the classroom. So, who is Ms. Garrighan? Let’s take a deeper look and get to know the woman behind the lessons.
Ms. Garrighan grew up in St. Louis, where she developed a deep appreciation for the city’s unique food scene, especially toasted ravioli and St. Louis-style pizza. That’s where her heart is, and she’s proud to call it home. During the summer, she often heads back to St. Louis to reconnect with family and friends, as she rarely stays in Austin. Beyond her love for St. Louis, she’s passionate about traveling and exploring new places. Last summer, she visited Prague to catch up with close friends, then backpacked through Croatia and Montenegro. Her future travel plans include a trip to Alaska to see orca whales and an adventure to Guatemala to hike a volcano. Whether it’s returning home or discovering new destinations, she loves making memories along the way.
Garrighan began her educational journey at Drury University, a liberal arts school tucked away in rural Missouri. Initially undecided on her path, she explored a variety of fields, from journalism and archaeology to philosophy. It wasn’t long before she realized that her true passion was in academia, and while she continued to appreciate these disciplines, she ultimately recognized that education was where she truly belonged. By the end of her freshman year, she decided to transfer to the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she pursued a degree in secondary education with a focus on English.
Through this transition, Garrighan discovered her deep love for teaching and learning, sparking a commitment to inspire and educate future generations. Her interest in teaching began long before her career, when she’d play “teacher” with her sisters as a child. Although she didn’t fully understand it then, those moments sparked her initial draw to education. Reflecting on her early years, she says, “As a young girl, I thought teaching was just a lot of paperwork—organizing, passing out papers, marking them. I didn’t fully understand the impact it had at the time. But as I got older and grew more passionate about my studies, I found myself equally drawn to helping my siblings and tutoring them. Teaching my little sister to read was especially rewarding, and that sense of fulfillment stayed with me as I worked with kids and teenagers over the years.”
Ms. Garrighan’s path to teaching was shaped by years of exploration. Before landing at KIPP Austin Collegiate, she taught in St. Louis and spent time teaching abroad. But it was during her time in Prague, where she taught for three years, that she realized it was time to return to a high school classroom setting and be closer to family.When she discovered KIPP, she instantly knew it was the right fit, there was just something about it that felt right. That was when she hopped on her flight from Prague to Austin, Texas.
Teaching literature and film has been a passion of Ms. Garrigan’s that she was able to carry into teaching here at Kipp, she taught English 1 and composition 1 2022-2023 but it wasn’t until 2023 when she started teaching AP Literature and composition and film studies and she’s always found ways to connect her students with timeless pieces of art. Her love for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald stems from her own high school experience, where she first read the book and discussed it with classmates. Now, as a teacher, those discussions are even more meaningful. She loves watching students make connections, and the conversations they have in class are really special. On the other hand in Film Studies, Good Will Hunting left a lasting impact on her, especially the lessons from Robin Williams’ character that resonate deeply with her and her students. It’s amazing to watch how they respond to that movie.
To continue, Ms. Garrighan’s teaching style has evolved in ways she never expected. She’s become more patient, more playful, and more authentic with her students. Teaching at KIPP has allowed her to embrace her sillier side while also learning the importance of setting boundaries to build strong, genuine relationships. Her time at the school has not only sharpened her teaching skills but has made her a better person, someone who values connection, growth, and the joy of learning alongside her students due to the influence of her former co-worker Ms. Welin, who left a lasting impact on her view of being direct, even when it involves tough conversations.
Senior Salvador Cruz Osorio shares, “The thing I appreciate most about Ms. Garrighan is the genuine connection and friendship we have. I’ve known her since my freshman year, and from the start, I noticed how hard she works to build sincere connections with her students. That’s something I really admire in a teacher. Another thing that makes her stand out is her sense of humor. She never fails to make me laugh, and she always seems to have a joke or a face to lighten any mood.”
Furthermore, one of her most memorable moments at KIPP has been sponsoring the Literary Migrations journal club alongside Dr. Strong. The after school meetings spent drafting the journal and the frantic goose chases around the school to find missing paper copies of the migrations journal were chaotic, but the book launch made it all worth it. The fellowship and shared sense of accomplishment from bringing the journal to life is something she deeply values—especially when it comes to helping students create something meaningful.
A special fun fact about Garrighan is that she’s also known for starting the school’s Ping Pong Club, a space where students can come together to share their love for the game. It all started in 2021 when she got a ping pong table for celebrations in homeroom, and the students just loved it. Now it’s become something more students are getting better at playing, and the competition is fiercer. What started as a fun break from the usual school routine has blossomed into an official club, where students challenge each other, grow their skills, and connect outside of the traditional classroom setting. She used to be the best, but now, she’s just one of the players. It’s been amazing to watch the students grow in their abilities.
Finally, one of the most fulfilling aspects of her journey has been watching the Class of 2025 grow from their freshman year to where they are now. It’s been an emotional experience for her. “It’s been a privilege watching them grow up,” she reflects. For her graduating class of 2025 students, she encourages them to stay in touch and to always embrace the challenges life throws at them. She also stresses the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s where the real growth happens. And one of her key pieces of advice is to maintain strong relationships with your parents, because time is precious, and those connections matter more than you might realize.
As a teacher, Ms. Garrighan’s advice extends beyond academics. She emphasizes the importance of kindness, something that is sometimes overlooked in the hustle of high school. High school is a time when students are figuring out who they are, and kindness can really shape who they become.
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