Team Arroyo #WeLoveTeachers

Arroyo is an exceptional human being that illuminates the lives of those she meets. The staff of the Norfolk Summer Leadership Camp wants to take a second to acknowledge her impact on our lives as a part of GoFundMe's Teacher Appreciation Week #WeLoveTeachers. If we can raise $500  by May 18th, we will qualify for a $1000 donatation from GoFundMe Inc. 

She began her journey wanting to serve children in Guatemala. True story. She pictured herself living in the mountains making a difference in those tiny bitty lives. She got a Spanish degree with a teaching license, wanting to speak the language until she made it to Central America.

In 1996 Dr. Stealey took a chance on this 5ft tall, 90 pound waif and that was all she wrote. Being mentored by Dr. Stealey set Arroyo on an amazing path. Fast forward 8 years , she'd been named Rookie of the year,  teacher of the year, and had been tapped to run Student Council at Norview High School. In 2004 she was selected to run leadership classes for LCSE. Since then she has taught Spanish 1, 2, 3, and 4, Leadership Foundations, Upper Class Leadership, Teen Leadership, and Advanced Leadership for LCSE. In 2015, she took on the role of department chair for Leadership, ESL, and Foreign Languages. Arroyo's teaching career was fulfilled in 2014 when Norview became the ESL school for NPS where she was able to speak Spanish everyday and make a serious impact.

Outside of her Norview life, Arroyo has been running leadership camps every summer since 2006. And that is how a lot of us who have written the following stories and letters below have gotten to know and love her. 

The Norfolk Summer Leadership Camp is the bread and butter to Arroyo's goal to empower all of Norfolk's youth-- not just her students. Its truly the extention of Arroyo's classroom. This year she's working with a team of students to raise money to host another year of camp.  Camp has received another cut by $3,000 this year, butthat wont stop us! With your donations, we can make up the difference and give our campers a truly empactful experience. 

Another year of camp means another year of 120 students connecting and celebrating one another. It means another 4 days of changing perspectives. It means another generation of college-bound students. It means another step toward building community. A donation to Arroyo is a donation to camp and a donation to empowering our city's youth. 


"I had her as a teacher seven years ago and she is still one of the most influential women in my life. She checks in on her students (old and new), treats them with the respect everyone deserves, goes above and beyond her call of duty as a teacher and loves each and every one of her students with her whole heart. She sacrifices her personal life sometimes to make sure that students get to experience all of the great things this world has to offer. She is a very involved teacher who does nothing short of give her whole self to her career and the students she encounters. She is a very humble woman and doesn't ask for anything. I think she deserves something to show how much we appreciate her and lover her." 

- Amber Valentine, VCU Undergrad


"I first met Arroyo as a energetic compassionate camp director, then as a freshmen leadership, she changed my view on helping others, opening and expanding my thoughts. I got to know her as a person while volunteering with the Norfolk Summer Leadership Camp. She runs a tight ship and bases relationships on trust and love."

- Andre Felder, Norview Graduate


"There is no teacher in this world that is more selfless. She deserves kidney donations, no less monetary donations."

- Michael Hodge, Norview Graduate, Current Teacher


"She is truly one of a kind. There are some good teachers but it's rare to find good teachers that have a compassion for students in school and out of school- that is Ms. Arroyo." 

- Shayna Palomar, VCU Undergraduate


"It doesn't matter what's going on in anyone's life - Ms. Arroyo is there with a smile and a question, ranging from school to family, and always knows what to say to make your day."

- Frances Moore, Maury High Student



"I met Ms. Arroyo when I stared teaching at Norview in 2000. In 17 years working in education, I have never met anyone more committed to our youth than Katie Arroyo. When you want to get something done, Katie is the person to go to. But it is more than that, she truly believes in empowering our youth to be leaders. She gets it - the way she believes in our youth is unparalleled to anything I have seen before in education. Developing future leaders is a calling for her. She has influenced the lives of thousands of Norfolk teenagers to recognize success and find their inner leader. She has given up countless hours of her life, sacrificing nights and weekends staying dedicated to our youth. Not only has she positively impacted the lives of thousands of students at Norview High School, but her continued dedication to recognizing the potential of every youth that has participated in a leadership camp has had a lasting impact on shaping future leaders for our community." 

- Norfolk Councilman Smigiel 


"Ms Arroyo has been like a mother to everyone she meets. I have had the pleasure to learn some invaluable lessons from her and also have my life enriched with the support and love that she brings on the daily. I feel blessed to know such a courageous and strong woman and to have the example of a compassionate yet strong woman in front of me daily. It is so comforting knowing that I have a person who I can go to when times get tough or even when times are good. Just having that support makes a massive difference and Ms. Arroyo gets that. Thank you Ms. Arroyo for all you do! You are loved and appreciated more than you know!" 

-Jessica Ambrose, Norview Student


"Throughout highschool, I did Leadership Camp with her as a staff member and our relationship changed a lot. We got a lot closer and I think of her as family now. When I made the transition to college, she never forgot about me. We can pick up where we left off and she is so supportive. If I called her today, she would pick up before the third ring and be there for me. Being a senior in college now, I have seen the way she has impacted the lives of hundreds of other students and seeing them refer to her as "Mama Arroyo" is the most amazing thing. I appreciate her more than she will ever know."

- Andre Felder, Norview Graduate



"Ms. Arroyo was my first ever high school teacher. 1st block 2007 I crossed her threshold a short, pudgy freshman. She was my leadership teacher. She would go on to become much more than that. She is now my mentor as I am a teacher myself and more importantly one of my very dearest friends. My favorite memory of all time has to be the day she told me the sexiest thing a man can do is be hardworking. I've carried it with me my whole life. A silly lesson but it had kept me grinding."

- Michael Hodge, Norview Graduate, Current Teacher


"It has made me a better person- more confident, more creative, more patient, and more successful in every aspect of my life."

- Shayna Palomar, VCU Undergraduate


"Ms. Arroyo has shown me the capacity of true love. Whether through service, empathy, understanding, or her discipline, Arroyo has demonstrated what it means to be a force of light in a sometimes dark world. Personally, she has helped me to understand myself and how I relate to the world around me. Before Ms. Arroyo, much of my outlook on life was based only on how capable I thought I was in my own, singular abilities. Ms. Arroyo turned this perspective on its head and showed me, through her actions and lessons, that I am only as strong as my team, my community, and my world. In other words, Arroyo revealed in me the desire to make my world a better place for the sake of the collective success of everyone inside of it. Because of this, Arroyo is truly INVALUABLE in my development as a student, a son, a friend, public servant, and most importantly as a human being."

- Philip Riddick, UNC Undergraduate


"One of my favorite memories as a student with Arroyo was when she let me lead a few of her freshman leadership classes. She approached me my senior year and asked if I would be interested in facilitating class for a few days during the year. The task seemed daunting but she made me feel so confident in myself about doing it. She saw something in me and gave me a chance. She trusted in me and those days teaching has led me to continue to push the envelope years later in college. That was the first moment I felt truly empowered. Thank you." 

- Amber Valentine, VCU Undergrad



"Camp changed the way I think. It has made me appreciate what I have, my struggle, my family friends and life. Camp is where I found what really makes me happy, and that's connecting and helping others. I ask my friends more real questions, to make sure they're okay mentally. I am a more positive person because of camp. I've met so many people through camp it's no way I can be negative . I have an image I have to hold , because of the people I've lead through camp, they look up to me. And that keeps me going. Camp will continue to change my life , every year it's a new experience."

- Andre Felder, Norview Graduate


"Compassion, openness, and vulnerability. I did not know how to work these forigen emotions until camp."

- Michael Hodge, Norview Graduate, Current Teacher


"I was invited to summer leadership camp as a camper in the summer of 2012. And I've been coming back to camp as a counselor every summer since then. There's too many memories to name but any little moment we share together is a wonderful memory. When I'm able to speak with her one on one or with a small group of people, I cherish those moments the most."

- Shayna Palomar, VCU Undergraduate


"I went through camp when it was still just Norview High Schools transition camp. I was a part of the creation of what camp is now and I couldn't be more thankful. Going through the camp as a camper was so amazing and I made close connections that really have lasted thoughout high school and college. The same thing with camp now. I know that anyone that has been on staff, I can go to or I can reach out to and it will be a positive outcome. Camp was one of the only places for a while that I felt at home. This will be the first year since 9th grade that I will not be in attendance and it hurts my heart knowing that I am now making the transition to the real world. This camp showed me who I am a leader, gave me the chance to be creative, grow and learn from other students who had a passion for life. If if wasn't for camp, I don't know who I would be now."

- Amber Valentine, VCU Undergrad



Thank you, Arroyo, for the change you have brought to this world.  We have mad love and respect for your unwaivering dedication.