Goodbye and Good Luck to Catherine

Spring 2007

	Photo: Michael Duffy

By the Editors of Rethinking Schools

With this issue, Rethinking Schools editors say goodbye to our managing editor, Catherine Capellaro. Catherine is heading to the bright lights of New York City where her hit musical, Walmartopia, co-written with her husband Andrew Rohn, is being produced Off Broadway later this year. As Catherine and Andrew explain, Walmartopia "looks at the effects of unbridled capitalism on the workers of the world's largest corporation and uses humor to poke fun at the powerful titans who shape our nation's destiny."

Catherine joined Rethinking Schools in 2002 at a critical moment in our history. Barbara Miner, our first and only managing editor until then, was leaving after 10 years with the journal to pursue other projects. Catherine proved herself a fine successor, overseeing our transition from tabloid to magazine, and collaborating with Patrick Flynn to craft the magazine's new design.

In addition to working with writers around the country toward publication in Rethinking Schools and supervising the magazine's production, Catherine also conducted many memorable interviews over the years. These include conversations with A People's History of the United States author Howard Zinn; El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice principal Héctor Calderón; former Ohio State Senator C.J. Prentiss; Texas test whistleblower Robert Kimball; and founder of New York City's Central Park East Elementary and Secondary schools, Deborah Meier.

Catherine and husband Andrew have been a creative team for years, producing plays and performing in bands together. Their satirical production Walmartopia was an enormous success in their hometown of Madison, Wis., and in the summer of 2006, they were invited to bring the play to the New York International Fringe Festival. Rave reviews earned the play encore performances last fall and finally a shot at Off Broadway.

We thank Catherine for her years of work and the enormous contributions she made to the Rethinking Schools project. And we urge Rethinking Schools supporters to continue to follow Catherine's work. Check out the progress of Walmartopia at www.walmartopia.com.

Spring 2007