Katie

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

I have wanted to turn my wrist tattoo into a sleeve for years, but I teach kindergarten so I wasn’t sure if I could pull that off. But I jumped in and did it! It starts as a treeline by my wrist, then turns into mountains, then space with Saturn, and finally a galaxy at my shoulder.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

“We’re the whispers behind the smile, The secrets beneath the sweater sleeves. In the classroom, we watch her paint rainbows in little minds, Soft words, gentle hands, Songs about sunshine and counting to ten. But when the bell rings and the crayons are capped, We come alive. We tell stories in ink and ache— Of battles fought inside skin, Of beauty found in darkness, Of pain not feared, but owned.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’m a dog mom with 5 rescue dogs who would love more yard space. A revamp of my backyard would be amazing!