After a long battle with cancer, Sheridan High School’s beloved Kathy Channel passed away Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. She is survived by her husband Jerry Channel and her children Allison, Charlie (Arlene), Kelly, Ben, Anna, and her stepdaughter Shania. She was the daughter of Lois Schlagel (Larry Calvert) and her late father Bill Schlagel. She was a twin sister to Kelly Hatch (Jack) and Sam Schlagel (Lori). She leaves behind her grandsons Wyatt and Jayden and her nieces and nephews Kaylie (Ryan), Josh, Kelsey, Kenzie, Jerrod, Jayden, and Ella as well as her great nephew Cohen. She will be missed by all students and staff of SHS as well as those in the Sheridan community.
Channel had a glowing smile that could be recognized in any hallway or classroom of SHS. She naturally had a kind, empathetic heart, and a beautiful soul.
Professionally, Channel was a paraprofessional teacher at SHS and also a certified teacher, which translated very well into her role in helping her kids with their classes and schoolwork. Having a teacher certification was not a requirement or expectation but was yet another special trait she possessed. Not only did her professionalism make her so special, but her empathy and compassion for everyone around her.
Her favorite quote was that of Mary Poppins, “Enough is as good as a feast.” As a minimalist, Channel was perfectly content with what her life consisted of and felt she needed nothing more than what her life had to offer. “Everything was really her family, her husband, her job, and her kids,” said Gretchen McCafferty, “She didn’t need much else.” McCafferty teaches special education at SHS and was very close with Channel in many different aspects. “I knew she supported me and my decisions 100%, and I did the same for her,” said McCafferty.
Her love for sunflowers went beyond her bright and beam-of-light personality and became the name of a new scholarship in Channel’s name, “The Kathy Channel Sunflower Scholarship.” It is purely donation-based and is to be awarded to a special needs student at SHS. The recipient for the year 2025 is senior Noah Grieves. One of Channel’s last wishes was to have the opportunity to give this award to Grieves in person and come say goodbye to the staff and kids and she did just that. She stood from her wheelchair with her head held high as she gave hugs and as Grieves was awarded the scholarship.
Although Channel’s life was nowhere near perfect, she made the best of every situation and worked to continue to make herself a better person, allowing everyone around her to be touched by her kindness and positivity each and every day.
