Kim and her daughter, Libbie, at her senior prom. Kim finds purpose not only in being a mom, but also in serving and supporting students at St. Joseph’s Indian School.
Fourteen years ago, Kim dropped her youngest daughter off for her first day of kindergarten and found herself wondering what would come next.
Kim had worked as a special education teacher in public schools for eight years before choosing to stay home to raise her children. With her youngest beginning school, another chapter was on the horizon … for her daughter and for herself.
“I remember thinking, ‘What’s next for me?’” Kim said.
She didn’t have to wait long for an answer.
That very day, St. Joseph’s Indian School called and asked if she would consider a long-term substitute position in special education.
At the time, Kim couldn’t have known just how much that phone call would change her life.
What began as a temporary position grew into something much more. This school year marks her 14th year at St. Joseph’s. Returning to special education allowed Kim to step back into work she already knew and loved. In her role, she helps students learn, grow and experience success in ways unique to their individual needs.
Kim shares a special moment with a student during a St. Joseph’s Christmas celebration nearly 10 years ago.
Soon, St. Joseph’s was no longer simply the place where she worked. It became an important part of her life. The relationships she built with students and coworkers became just as meaningful as the work itself.
This year, Kim once again finds herself standing at the beginning of another new chapter. Her youngest daughter — the same little girl she dropped off at kindergarten on the day St. Joseph’s first called — has now left home for college. Suddenly, Kim and her husband are empty nesters. Change is all around her, which can feel a little unsteady at times.
“Just like that first day of kindergarten, I’ve found myself feeling a little lost and heartbroken,” she said.
But what’s not unsteady is the foundation she’s created at St. Joseph’s.
“These students and this school have given me purpose, peace and a place where I know I’m meant to be,” she said.
Kim’s grateful for that unexpected phone call 14 years ago. It led her to her “calling,” as she describes it. That calling is strengthened by the students she serves, the coworkers who walk alongside her and the generous donors who make the work at St. Joseph’s possible.
“To my students and coworkers, thank you for being such an important part of my life,” Kim said. “And to our generous donors, thank you for believing in and supporting this school and all of us who get to be part of it.”
As St. Joseph’s Indian School begins its 100th school year, Kim’s story is a reminder that its impact extends far beyond the classroom. Sometimes, the people who come to St. Joseph’s hoping to make a difference discover their own lives have been changed, too.
Learn more about St. Joseph’s Indian School by visiting stjo.org.
