AMLE Remembers Kathy Hunt-Ullock

Kathy Hunt-Ullock
1951 – 2012

Kathy Hunt-Ullock passed away on Saturday, May 19, surrounded by family and friends. She was a well-loved member of the AMLE family, developing friendships along the way as she espoused doing what’s best for middle grades students. She will be greatly missed by all of us in the middle level education community.

Kathy was a middle grades math teacher, team leader, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, director of staff development, and consultant in Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Washington State, and Arizona. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University and an administrative certificate from the University of Colorado. In 1982, Kathy was part of a 10-person team that planned the philosophy, program, and physical plant of an exemplary middle school in Broomfield, Colorado. In 1987 she was a member of the team that represented the United States at the first European conference on middle level education, held in Brussels, Belgium. She returned to the event in 2001, held in Budapest, Hungary, as their keynote speaker.

From 1987-1993, Kathy was a consultant for the National Resource Center for Middle Grades Education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. As a result of this affiliation, she assisted the Department of Defense schools in Germany and England in their conversion to middle school philosophy, programs, and practices.

Kathy presented at school sites and conferences in 48 states and 11 foreign countries. In 1997, she received “The Award of Distinction” from the College of Education at The Ohio State University for her work with middle level students and teachers.

Kathy's specialties included delivering upbeat, informative, and humorous keynote speeches. She also worked with middle schools in a workshop format, and by meeting with middle school teams during their common planning time, speaking with parent groups about students and schools that best meet their needs, working with school boards and committees regarding middle level transition, delivering sessions at state and national conferences, and working with schools on their master schedules. Kathy keynoted the NMSA Middle Level Essentials conference, spoke at more than 20 NMSA/AMLE annual conferences, and developed a series of professional development CDs on teaming.

The family is holding private services for Kathy in Sedona, Arizona. There will also be a tribute to Kathy at the Nuts and Bolts conference in Boulder, Colorado, this summer and a celebration of her life at the AMLE 39th Annual Conference for Middle Level Education in Portland, Oregon. We are currently in the process of making arrangements for this event and will keep you posted.

If you are wondering what you can do, Kathy asked that donations be made to the AMLE Foundation Fund, helping to extend her legacy for the benefit of other passionate middle grades educators and the students they care so much about.

Donate online or send a check payable to the AMLE Foundation Fund to

AMLE Foundation Fund
4151 Executive Parkway, Suite 300,
Westerville, OH 43081.

"As many of you know, Kathy loved her work with AMLE and made lifelong friends through the association. Kathy was a true BELIEVER in middle level education. She was a champion of teachers and administrators! She put the "Whammy Jammy" into our lives. She was a role model for each of us in middle level...she was loved by so many. Her work with schools all over the world is long lasting and she was truly full of hope and optimism. I am not sure if we ever knew if Kathy ever had a bad day. She greeted everyone with a warm smile and a hug. I think what we will miss most about Kathy is her love of life, her friendship, and her spirit. I know Kathy is in a better place, she is shopping at Chico's surrounded by family and friends."
–Jack Berckemeyer