When Kaitlyn Ramos speaks about her role as a co-principal of Archbishop Borders School, her words reflect both the weight of responsibility and the deep joy she finds in her work. The path that led her to this position wasn’t always clear, but looking back, it seems almost destined. “I kind of did the opposite of what most people do,” she laughs. “I went to public school until high school, then switched to Catholic school.”
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Kaitlyn attended public schools until high school, when she transferred to Vincentian Academy. It was a significant change, one that quietly began to shape her future. After high school, she attended Loyola University Maryland, where she initially didn’t see herself heading into education—let alone Catholic education. “I was undeclared at the start of my first year,” she remembers. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to serve in some way.”
Later in her freshman year at Loyola things began to fall into place. Kaitlyn became involved with the university’s Center for Community Service and Justice, volunteering at Catholic outreach hubs and schools like Our Daily Bread and Mother
Seton Academy, respectively. It was at the latter, working with students in underserved communities, that Kaitlyn first felt a strong pull toward education. “I was volunteering with a fitness club at Mother Seton Academy once a week, and I saw the impact that education can have on a child’s life.”
It wasn’t teaching that drew Kaitlyn in, however—it was the broader mission of serving children in urban settings who needed more than just academic support. “I watched a clip from Waiting for Superman—a documentary about the barriers in education—and it just hit me. I wanted to make a difference in urban education.” By the end of her freshman year, Kaitlyn had declared her major in elementary education, knowing she had found her calling.
That calling led her to Archbishop Borders School, where she serves a community comprised of students from diverse backgrounds, many of whom receive financial assistance through the Partners in Excellence (PIE) Scholarship Program. For Kaitlyn, the work is as much about supporting families as it is about teaching students. “Catholic education isn’t just about academics,” she explains. “It’s about providing a place where students can thrive and feel loved, and where their families feel supported.”
One of the stories Kaitlyn loves to tell is about a young child who transferred to Archbishop Borders School last year. He had recently moved to the United States from the Middle East and spoke neither English nor Spanish—the two primary languages spoken at the school. The transition was overwhelming. “He cried for the first month of school,” Kaitlyn recalls. “He wouldn’t even stay in a classroom.”
Drawing on their deep reserves of Christ-like kindness, Archbishop Borders staff took a patient, supportive approach, making him feel comfortable in the school before pushing him academically. “His dad would come in with him every morning and sit in the office with him for the first couple of hours of the day,” Kaitlyn explains. Slowly, the staff worked with him, starting with small steps—just sitting with him in a classroom, or joining him in filling in coloring book pages—until he was ready to participate in lessons.
But what struck Kaitlyn the most was the way the other students welcomed him, despite the language barrier. “The other kids didn’t speak his language, but they invited him to play at recess. They didn’t need words—they just threw the ball and included him.”
Kaitlyn smiles as she remembers a particular moment at Mass that year. “His family is Muslim, but they would come to Mass, and the father would sit with him. One day, the boy went up for a blessing and was skipping back to his dad afterward. He was so happy, and I teared up watching it. He felt included. He felt like he belonged.”
It’s stories like these that illustrate the power of Catholic education, particularly in a diverse, welcoming community like Archbishop Borders. “Catholic schools have the ability to completely change the trajectory of a child’s life,” Kaitlyn says. “We welcome kids who may have struggled in other environments—kids who have been bullied, kids who feel lost in larger public schools. Here, we know them, and we love them for who they are.”
The support that Archbishop Borders provides extends far beyond the classroom. Kaitlyn speaks with pride about the school’s wraparound services, which include food banks, coat drives, vision screenings, and dental checkups. “We work with local universities and community organizations to make sure our kids and their families have what they need to succeed,” she explains. “It’s about serving the whole family, not just the child.”
For Kaitlyn, diversity is one of the school’s core values. “We have students from 15 different countries. We celebrate that diversity every day. When our students graduate, I want them to leave here proud of their culture and identity, knowing that their differences are something to be celebrated, not feared.”
The PIE Scholarship Program plays a crucial role in making all of this possible. “PIE scholarships allow so many of our students to be here,” Kaitlyn says. “Without the assistance PIE provides, many families wouldn’t be able to afford a Catholic education.” She pauses, her voice full of gratitude. “Thank you to the donors who make it possible for these kids to thrive. You’re not just providing financial assistance—you’re changing lives.”
Being Co-principal at Archbishop Borders School isn’t just a job for Kaitlyn—it’s a calling, a mission that she is proud to serve every day. And with the support of programs like Partners in Excellence, she knows that the future is bright for her students, each and every one ready to make their mark on the world.
Kaitlyn’s hope is that PIE donors will see the impact of their generosity firsthand. “Come visit our school,” she says. “Attend a school event, volunteer for Career Day—see the kids in action. I promise: you’ll fall in love with this community.”
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Visit us here to learn more about the Partners in Excellence (PIE) Scholarship Program.
