Outstanding District Teacher Named In Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Kim Kaminski, a third grade teacher at Kinser Elementary, is the 2016-2017 Outstanding District Educator. The award recognizes instructors that are dedicated to the mission of the PTA and is awarded by the Strongsville Council PTA.

Kaminski has been with the Strongsville Schools for 27 years. After attending Baldwin Wallace University, she had teaching assignments at Chapman Elementary and Strongsville High School. She also taught at Drake and Zellers Elementary Schools, before landing at Kinser.

“It is quite an honor to receive this award from PTA because it comes from the parents. They see what kind of a daily impact we can have on children. Our jobs are so much more than teaching strategies to solve math problems or the process of reading," Kaminski said in a statement. "We help develop who they are as people, help create positive educational attitudes, as well as develop positive relationships with our students. I am honored to represent the Strongsville teachers and staff that work alongside of me every day. We are a district of strong teachers, and you are only as good as the team you work with."

She was nominated by the Kinser Elementary PTA. In its nomination, the council wrote, “Mrs. Kaminski’s kids learn, grow and thrive — not just through chapters of a book or pages of a lesson plan, but also through each other. Her knowledge of subject matter, command of the curriculum and awareness of standards are so high they are constant and silent givens, like a set scale that must be in place before music can be made. Time and again, Mrs. Kaminski hits all the high notes — instilling a love of learning, customizing tactics to reach students individually, inventing fun ways to teach important concepts, and much more.”

Kinsner Elementary Principal Adam Marino also weighed in on Kaminski's award. “Mrs. Kaminski is a leader, both in our building and in our District. She is a teacher that is not afraid to challenge the status quo, in positive ways, so that her classroom environment is continually adapting to the students and their needs," he said in a statement. "Mrs. Kaminski has high expectations for her students and holds them to very high standards, but also ensures that each of her students meets those expectations. She creates learning environments that encourage and set up all of her students to succeed.”

“We value our educators above all else and feel fortunate to be surrounded by the great teachers in this District. This award is representative of the strong partnership between PTA and the staff at Strongsville City Schools,” said Laura Housum, Strongsville Council PTA President.

Photo from Strongsville Schools

Caption: Left: Mrs. Kim Kaminski, Third Grade Teacher at Kinsner Elementary School

and Strongsville Council PTA Outstanding District Educator;
Right: Mr. Adam Marino, Principal at Kinsner Elementary School