Kim Waltmire

Elementary School Educator Teacher Mentor Speaker Author Visionary State and national award-winning educator; Successfully created yearly educational themes through project based learning; Recognized in over 100 articles or magazines; Skillfully and passionately supports, motivates, and consults educators about children’s literacy, along with making a difference through community outreach; Creatively promotes science: STEM, interdisciplinary programming, and cultural diversity; Appeared on various television shows for Project Based Learning programs; ie. Oprah Winfrey and CNN Experienced in: *Gifted & Talented Education / Differentiated Instruction *Thematic/Project Based Learning (PBL) *PD Instructor at various workshops; cross-pollinating literacy/writing thru science: STEM & visual literacy *Data team leadership *Community partnerships *Top district writing scores for 21 years; grade 2 *Public relations/Promoting diversity *Integrated science programs- cross grade levels *Mentoring teachers/student teachers *Enhancing/revising curriculum. K-3 Professional Experience Wolcott Elementary School, West Hartford, Connecticut 2012 on-going Colchester Elementary School, Colchester, Connecticut 1990-2011 Spaulding Elementary School, Suffield, Connecticut 1989-1990 State/Local Speaker: CREC, EASTCONN, SERC, ConnTESOL, CT Reading Council 2000-2009 Author: The Art of Visual Writing : Picturesque Writing 2000 Phi Lambda Theta International Honor Society 2006 Founder of The Give Goes On, LLC 2008

Some of the skills and characteristics that enhance my teaching style are: one's integrity and character, being a team-player, a good listener, and one who will admit there may be another way, being flexible, embraces change and adds value to others, as well as putting others before themselves. I teach my students to learn to 'live' so they will love to ‘learn’. It is important to have all the qualifications the world asks of educators, but if you don't have the 'heart' to breathe inspiration, creativity, imagination, love, and kindness into children of all ages then I believe we are missing the mark. When I teach I enter my classroom ready to learn from my students. They teach me every day, but how powerful will it be if we choose to live and learn together. I tell the children that you can have all the degrees in the world, but if you don't have love or kindness, your skills and characteristics mean nothing.

Career Awards & Accomplishments *USA Today All-Star Teacher Team; Selected for top 20 teachers in America *Colchester Elementary School Teacher of the Year *Eastern Connecticut Literacy Teacher of the Year *Mystic Aquarium Marine Science Teacher of the Year - Voices of the Sound *National Environmental Teacher of the Year - Gene Cartledge Award ($10,000 grant) *Connecticut Environmental Teacher of the Year for National Association Conservation District *Presidential Award finalist for Connecticut Elementary Science Education and nominated for another year *First place National Science Award for Plan Your Own Dream Field Trip - Creative Classroom Magazine *White House Recognition for Gift Goes On (stamps to aid hungry in Africa) *Highlighted in Pat William’s book - Souls of Steel (Orlando Magic Basketball’s Vice President) *Recognized by Connecticut State Governor Jodi M. Rell for Global Stamp School Fundraiser *Two time winner: Sol Kolack Award - One of ten New England teachers chosen for community partnerships and teaching diversity *Two time winner: Fleet All-Star Outstanding Community Programs ($10,000 grant) *Two time winner: CT Celebration of Excellence for outstanding projects: Explorastories/Gift Goes On *National Most Outstanding Intergenerational Program - The Gift Goes On Kimberly W. Waltmire Page Two ______________________________________________________¬¬¬__________________ *Connecticut Most Outstanding Intergenerational Program: The Gift Goes On *Twice recognized in Creative Classroom Teachers Magazine for Interdisciplinary/Writing programs *State of Connecticut recognition for Diversity Program - The Voice of Freedom; (self published student book, traveling with Amistad Schooner) *Hartford Courant Newspaper, Connecticut Volunteer of the Year *National Council on Aging - Senior Center Achievement Award: Building Community Partnerships *National Institute for Senior Centers Award- Gift Goes On *Lobster Tale Goes National - Chosen as most fascinating story in CT, 1996; Hartford Courant Newspaper *Received over $60,000 in grants and awards *Appeared on CNN, Oprah Winfrey, Real Heroes Among Us; and Fox TV Publications & Presentations *Conference Speaker; Professional development and various other workshops *Published in Creative Classroom Teacher Magazine: Tapping into the Arts *Published in Creative Classroom Teacher Magazine: Plan your own Dream Field Trip *Author of Picturesque Writing and fourteen other literacy, science and social studies home-school books *C.A.R.E.S. Coloring book - Responsive Classroom and Character Development *Explorastory Review - students writing published monthly in local newspaper (Colchester & West Hartford) *Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk (in progress) *The Real Me - Behind Every Woman is a Story (presently being edited) *Recognized in publications: Best Friends, Contact-Satellite Maps and Future Forestry, Business Week, USA Today Self-Published Books: Project Based Learning Projects *The Unsinkable-Lost and Found ( Story about the Titanic integrating science concepts; grade 1) *Ruby Bridges - Making a Difference One Step at a Time (Donated to Ruby Bridges) *The Wings of Faith (donated to CT Children’s Medical Center) *The Voice of Freedom Poetry Book (traveling with Amistad) *Do You Hear the Sound? Science Poetry Book - Conservation for Long Island Sound *The Gift Goes On teacher’s manual - Intergenerational Programming *Animal Connections – Elementary/High School Collaboration Community Service *Monthly visits to the local Senior Center *Coordinator of Older American’s Day *Created evening literacy programs *Kids for Kindness - Community Giving *Public/Home-school workshop presenter *Large group seminar speaker

Education Highly Qualified Teacher in Connecticut and UbD trained thru CREC, Hartford, Connecticut Spring 2005 CT Teacher Certified - Cooperating and Mentor Teacher Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut May 2000 Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education/Connecticut Professional Certification Central Connecticut State University - New Britain, Connecticut December 1988 Bachelor of Science in Education: Pre K-8

Tap into the Arts is an article in Creative Classroom Magazine, May/June 1988 issue written about my reading and writing strategies. Using great art and illustrations inspire great writing. Looking at works of art and teaching children how to gather information from the illustrations is just the beginning of teaching children to pay attention to details and develop their own opinions. Other books I have written include Hands On Grammar, Read-Along Series, and history and science related lessons integrating the arts.