On a bulletin board littered with forgotten papers, my attention zoomed in to October’s dates to remember, and there it was: the Strath Haven panther icon… with a witch hat.

Assistant Principal Tabatha Duffy showcases her creativity through graphic page design and always experiments with fun new layouts. Some of her work can be spotted in the hallways and classrooms, as she is the face behind many of Strath Haven’s PBIS posters.

Duffy’s love for graphic design was transformed in her high school years, as she created logos and banners to sell on her Etsy shop. This hobby of hers grew over time, eventually making its way into her career as an educator.

“When I did Power Points for my students, I would have a different color palette each day that was chosen on purpose,” Duffy said. “They would look forward to what the color palette was going to be, which is so silly, but I think that they could tell that I cared about it based on how much time I spent on it.”

Her work doesn’t go unnoticed, as fellow teachers appreciate the extra effort Duffy puts into each of their papers.

“She puts a lot of time and heart into what she’s doing, and she tries to make it nice for us. It’s easier to follow with all of her designs and all the things she does,” English teacher Ms. Kate Evans said.

Not only do they appreciate the extra time she spends, but they also get a smile out of each of her designs.

“When her monthly dates to remember come out, she always puts little icons at the top that are appropriate for them,” English Teacher Ms. Reagan Lattari said. “She helps inspire people to make more aesthetically pleasing handouts.”

Communicating effectively in a fun way has always been and always will be the name of the game for Duffy.

“It matters if you just crank something out versus thinking about how it’s going to be received,” Duffy said. “Everything is so busy and chaotic all the time, so you might as well have a nice little thing to look at in the office.”