Katy Vilardo

After spending over a decade working at Marriott Headquarters, Katy made a career shift to focus on community-centered work,a journey that led her to The Diener School. For the past five years, she has been part of the team in a part-time role that allows her to support the school in a variety of ways. Katy serves as both a short- and long-term substitute, helps the youngest students acclimate to school life, and is always ready to jump in wherever she’s needed.

One of Katy’s favorite roles at Diener is teaching cooking. Over the years, she has created a fun and welcoming kitchen environment where students feel empowered to try new things, build confidence, and celebrate their success, both in and out of the kitchen. With a dedicated food lab, she has been able to expand the cooking curriculum and is excited for what’s to come.

Outside of Diener, Katy is passionate about her work with Caring Matters, where she facilitates children’s bereavement groups (Good Grief Clubs) in Montgomery County Public Schools. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for friends and family, spending time on Cape Cod, and being with her partner, their cat Otis, and their dog, Gouda.