Arizona Republic education reporter Cathryn Creno covers the Mesa Public Schools district and the Arizona Common Core Standards. Before moderating a panel on the state’s new policy holding back third graders who can’t read, she talked about the hidden toughness of dolphins, why she doesn’t discourage aspiring journalists, and Ohio landscapes that look strangely Southwestern in the Zócalo green room.
What’s hanging on your living room walls?
When I was a little girl, there was an old lady named Gertrude Hott who lived across the street from me. I did not realize that she was a really extraordinary landscape painter until a friend of mine who I grew up with put images of her paintings on my Facebook page, and said, “Do you want Gertrude’s paintings, otherwise I’ll take them to Goodwill?” So for the last eight months I’ve had Gertrude’s landscapes. They were painted in Ohio, but somehow they’re Southwestern and fit in my living room.
What do you do to clear your mind?
I have two terriers. I try to walk them frequently, get out into the world and nature. I used to play Facebook games, and then that got sort of addictive, but I do think those are good for clearing your mind sometimes.
Where would you like to travel to next?
My mother’s turning 80 next year, and we are planning a trip to Paris.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Phoenix?
Right now, I’ve been going to a restaurant called Pomegranate, and it’s way south in a community called Ahwatukee. And it’s a whole foods, vegetarian, healthy restaurant.
If you didn’t cover education, what would your beat be?
Oh, I’ve covered so many things. I’m really interested in children’s issues at this point in my life, so hopefully it would be children and social services, bringing to life issues of disadvantaged kids, that kind of thing. Education is where I really want to be.
Who or what would be your mascot?
How about a dolphin? I know everybody loves dolphins, but I went scuba diving with dolphins about 10 years ago, and they’re funny, they’re frolicking, they’re kind of cool. But they’re also tough, and you can only tell when you get up really close. They do battle and have the scars to show for it. I think of myself as a fun, playful person who can be really tough when I need to and snap right out of it. I don’t think dolphins fit the image of Flipper many people have from the movies.
What word or phrase do you use most often?
Maybe it’s “Tell me more about it.” I like to ask questions.
What advice do you give to aspiring journalists?
Go for it. There’s so many people out there discouraging young people from going into journalism because of the decline in print journalism, and it doesn’t really matter what the format is. You can go out and do great journalism just with an iPhone now if you have video and a blog. So I say, if you’re an aspiring journalist in middle school, just get out there and start looking for stories and start reporting. You can never start too young, and don’t let anyone discourage you. Have fun. It’s supposed to be a fun field.
What’s your favorite day of the week?
Let’s just say Thursday. By then things are pretty much falling together. Most of the work is done, you’re looking forward to the weekend.
What’s on your nightstand right now?
I don’t really have much of a nightstand. I don’t have a light. I only have like a small table lamp on the other side of the room in my bedroom because I don’t like to read in bed. So I have some silk flowers. I have an atomic clock that always tells me exactly what time it is so I’m not late. Not too much. All my books are in a different room.