Catherine Bolton considers herself a woman of many hats. Technically she’s an elementary school mental health professional, but to the lives she’s touched, she’s much more.

To Jessica Beeson, coordinator of Cordley Elementary’s Helping Hawks program, Bolton and the people she’s surrounded by are “stewards of humanity,” working to leave the world a better place than when they entered it.

“She never looks at a kid and sees today’s version of that kid,” Beeson said. “She’s really able to see the history of the child, the family structure, the entire situation and the resources available.”

A San Francisco native, Bolton, 61, moved to Lawrence in the early 1990s. Several of her friends lived in the area, and she felt it would be an interesting next step.

Catherine Bolton has lived in Lawrence for over 25 years. For the past 9 years she has worked as a school mental health professional. She currently splits her time working at both Kennedy and Cordley Elementary schools.

She worked a stall at the local farmer’s market for several years before deciding to enroll at Kansas University.

Bolton began her freshman year in her early 40s, eventually leaving the school with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work.

Describing her position as a calling rather than a job, Bolton said she has been a mental health professional, or counselor, for the past nine years. Currently she splits her time between Cordley and Kennedy elementary schools.

As a counselor, Bolton leads classes teaching students prudent and ethical behaviors and preparing them for their futures, but she also works to ensure each child is fed, clothed and cared for.

“It’s a lot of work, but you do this because you care,” Bolton said. “You stay in this job because you love it, you love the kids and you care about the families and their wellbeing.”

Cris Anderson, Kennedy Elementary’s principal, said Bolton takes her responsibilities to heart and works well not only with the students, but with their families and the rest of the school’s staff.

One advantage that makes Bolton particularly effective is her involvement within Lawrence, Anderson explained.

“Catherine is very talented about knowing about resources in the community,” she said. “She has a rich background from being an active member of the community, and I think it’s a real asset to her and the role she plays in our public schools.”

Among the many programs Bolton has come to use in her career, the Helping Hawks program is one she created, Beeson said.

Simply put, the Helping Hawks is a list of parents Bolton can reach out to if students are lacking any basic essentials, Beeson said. The program began one year when the school had a higher density of homeless students than normal.

“At that point she said, ‘We’ve got some kiddos who have really basic needs that aren’t being met, they need new socks and underwear. Not luxuries, necessities,'” Beeson said.

Now Bolton only needs to identify a student in need and communicate to Beeson. From there, any number of participants will be contacted to help find the students what they need.

Through the program, students have been provided with items ranging from clothing and blankets to gas cards, Beeson said.

Another program, called BackSnack, gives children who might otherwise go hungry backpacks filled with food to take home on the weekends, Bolton said. And due to a recent partnership with the United Way, each food-filled backpack is accompanied by a book for the students to read.

While Bolton’s position is often complicated, Beeson and Anderson agree she handles the pressure with grace.

“She just does a fabulous job of addressing the needs of the students every day,” Beeson said.

“She knows that every one of these kiddos belongs to someone, and she treats that very seriously,” Anderson added.

While Bolton said there is a great deal of personal satisfaction in her work, it can sometimes take a toll on her.

“It’s real hard to see children between the ages of 5 and 10 struggle with the things they deal with,” she said. “It’s painful. And it’s painful for them whether they recognize it or not. They shouldn’t have to deal with these things.”

Rather than allowing herself to dwell, Bolton said it’s also her responsibility to take care of herself and to find a productive outlet for the perpetual angst.

“I like to listen to books, I love to garden,” she said. “There’s no better therapy than having my hands in the dirt and being connected to the earth. I also have a handful of Chihuahuas, and they keep things interesting.”

Hard as Bolton might work, she’s quick to admit she doesn’t do everything on her own. Both Cordley and Kennedy elementary schools are filled with a staff that cares deeply for their work, she said.

Anderson agreed, adding that she is fortunate to be surrounded by such caring professionals.

“They all do incredible work,” she said. “And it’s the most rewarding work we’ll ever do in our life.”

Bolton plans to continue her work in Lawrence. She appreciates living on the same east-side street as several of her Cordley students and knowing who bags her groceries, she said. At the same time, the town is still large enough for her to remain anonymous if she chooses.

As the springtime weather continues to roll in, Bolton said she’s eager to roll up her sleeves and work for the vine-ripe tomatoes she lives for, all the while continuing her work at Cordley and Kennedy.

“I’ll be here until they carry me out on a stretcher,” she said. “That’s my plan. I’m not going anywhere. I plan to keep at it.”