Judith (Judy) Kalla is a retired SHS English teacher, a devoted member of her temple, and an outstanding role model in the Scituate community. Known for her small but mighty persona, Kalla has a reputation as an exceptional educator.
Kalla began working at SHS in the fall of 1988 and retired in 2013. Her influence spread to faculty, students, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She taught classes such as Freshman English, Junior English, and Humanities. She explained how teaching was one of the “greatest experiences,” and working with young people was “truly inspiring.”
Born in Washington, D.C., at the height of the “Baby Boom,” Kalla moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she lived until she and her husband moved to Massachusetts. Kalla described growing up in the 1950s as “awesome,” recounting fond memories of riding her bike, attending summer day camps, and being a Girl Scout.
Kalla attended Mount Lebanon High School in Mount Lebanon, PA, a small suburb outside of Pittsburgh. Commenting that her high school experience was “similar to attending a small college,” Kalla graduated alongside 735 other students. As a high school student, she was engaged in several activities outside the classroom, including Student Council and Public Speaking, a club that can be compared to the Debate Team or Model UN. Kalla said she “worked really hard at maintaining school spirit” because, for a while, her school lacked spirit, as many kids continuously got into trouble.
During her sophomore year, Kalla met her future husband, Jeffrey (Jeff) Kalla. He was a high school senior at the time, and they dated until he headed off to college. When she graduated two years later, he called her after she saw him “driving around in his little sports car.” Kalla said, “The rest is history.” Jeff and Judy Kalla celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary this past November 4th.
Kalla explained that when she graduated from high school in 1971, it was a period of “change for women’s rights,” as women were gaining more opportunities, whether attending college or starting a career. At that time, the United States was engaged in a war in Vietnam, and Kalla recalled seeing the war’s influence “swirling around.” She remembers watching shows such as M*A*S*H (televised from 1972 to 1983), noting that this period made her more socially conscious.
When asked about her biggest inspirations, Kalla said her family helped grow her into who she is today. Her mother was an accomplished piano teacher at The Juilliard School, and her father was a respected scientist. Noting that her father was “very ahead of his time” regarding women’s rights, Kalla said he believed women should be given the same opportunities as men.
Kalla also recalled her paternal grandparents and their influence on her life. Born in the Soviet Union, they were forced to flee and seek refuge from the Red Army. Her grandfather had been in the military under Czar Nicholas’s rule, and after the Bolshevik Revolution, he joined the White Army. Eventually, her grandparents fled to Palestine, where her father was born. Kalla praised her grandparents’ undeniable strength and perseverance and said their example influenced her perspective on life.
When asked what advice she would offer high school students, she responded, “Tune out the hate speech we hear today,” adding, “Look for the good.” Praising her husband as one of the kindest people she has ever known, Kalla advised SHS students to “find the good in others and align yourself with them.”