Kimberly Walker
Teacher, Hooks High School
Kimberly Walker loves being able to give back to the community that helped raise her. Although things have changed since she was a student at Hooks High School, the general feeling of belonging and being supported is always present; it is home for her. Kimberly stays busy in the high school teaching English III, Hornet TV, Yearbook, Dual Credit Theatre Appreciation, and Dual Credit Psychology: Learning Frameworks. “I tried to fight becoming a teacher, but it was inevitable. I have always been drawn to education. My mother was a teacher and eventually became a principal in a neighboring school district. I had lived away from this area for a short time while in college, but came back to raise my children. In 2006, my passion was ignited to become a teacher,” Kimberly says.
School was quite the roller-coaster in Kimberly’s early years. “I have two very distinct teachers who come to mind in my early education: my first and second grade teachers. My first-grade teacher was very stern. I remember her making kids cry, and it felt like a weight was in the air every time you walked through the door of her classroom. On the other hand, my second-grade teacher was the kindest teacher, who still had high expectations for every student in the room, but she approached them with a kind heart. Every time I walked into her room, I felt welcomed and cared for,” she says.
Thankfully, Kimberly’s second-grade teacher left a positive impression that would influence Kimberly to become an educator, but not before traveling a slightly different path. While in high school, Kimberly took a few classes at Texarkana College. After high school, she attended Panola College in Carthage for two years on a full scholarship for Theatre. Since Panola is a community college, she had to transfer to complete her Bachelor’s degree, and she chose to attend East Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce) in Commerce, TX. There, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Theatre (Acting/Directing) with a minor in Journalism in 2002. “I then decided to go back to school to further my education and finished my Master of Science in Theatre in December of 2006. During this time, I began working as a paraprofessional and started an alternative certification program through iTeach Texas, but did not complete it in Texas. I secured a job on the Arkansas side as a Broadcasting teacher. I had to enroll in a different program through Arkansas to complete my Alternative Certification, which I finished in 2009. After spending a couple of years in the classroom, I decided to further my education and completed my second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in 2013. I have my principal’s certification for Texas as well as Arkansas,” Kimberly says.
“I teach because I love it. What brings me back each year is the feeling that I can make a difference, and I will help someone in at least one of my classes learn something, even if it is only that I care about them and want them to succeed,” Kimberly says. She describes her teaching style as a facilitator. She realizes that she cannot force a student to learn, nor hold their hand and make choices for them, but she can give them pieces to put together to find the answer and understand why that answer is correct. Kimberly strives to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment; however, it starts in the school hallway. “This is where every student is greeted and given a quick update for doing their ‘Do Now’ (bellringer). When the students walk in, I have minimal decorations and clutter on the walls. I like the classroom to have a sense of safety and not be overwhelming. I also offer flexible seating options, which include tables and chairs, as well as traditional desks. When leaving the classroom, I like to remind my students to be kind, be nice, and to be the best they can be each day,” Kimberly says.
This summer, Kimberly spent time teaching summer school, taking her daughter to multiple dance and cheer camps from Kilgore, Texas, to Jackson, Mississippi, and hanging out with her best friend. Then, before she knew it, her summer was nearing an end, and she began thinking about the upcoming school year. Kimberly hopes this next school year will spark new ideas that help her shift and adjust to meet the needs of all her students in their learning.
Did you know this about Kimberly?
Her favorite meal in the cafeteria is steak fingers, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a roll.
Her role models are junior high teacher Joe Hubbard and high school teacher Nancy Schenewerk. The most important role model in education, though, is Kimberly’s mom, Marsha Burris. “She showed me the importance of having an education. She taught sixth-grade Science and would test out her experiments on my brother, sister, and me at home. She then showed how to keep moving forward and to never stop learning. She achieved her principal certification when I was in college and became the principal of an alternative learning school. As a principal, she taught me that everyone, no matter what their situation is in life, deserves the chance to have a second chance,” Kimberly says.
If Kimberly could take students on a field trip anywhere in the world, she would take them to Disney World. “I think it is important for students (especially high school students) to remember what it is like to be a kid, enjoy the magical moments in life, and experience some carefree time before they have to enter the ‘real world’ and the pressures that come with it,” she says.
She knows all the lyrics to “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles!
Her morning routine consists of arriving at school early, sitting alone in her classroom as she reviews her plans for the day, prepares for her students, and prays for each of them.