2006 IMLA State Educator of the Year
Kim West
The tribute WTMS students gave Mrs. Kim West at the IMLA conference is what every teacher dreams of and hopes for... Over three hundred educators from around the state of Idaho watched as students from William Thomas Middle School honored Mrs. Kim West as Idaho Middle Level educator of the year for 2005-2006. By the time the students had finished talking about Mrs. West there wasn’t a dry eye in the huge conference room at the Red Lion in Pocatello.
The surprise was total! Mrs. West’s 7th graders came over on a school bus to honor her. They waited outside for the final keynote speaker to finish and then trooped in single file in front of hundreds of teachers. They were nervous! Each student spoke directly to Mrs. West and told her what they appreciated and why they thought she was a good teacher.
Reagan Nielsen told Mrs. West, “One of the many things that make Mrs. West a wonderful teacher is that she cares and wants the best for you. I have learned a lot. Mrs. West, thanks for what you have done. You’ve been a great teacher.” And one at a time the students paid tribute to an awesome educator.
Mrs. West was nominated by her colleagues at WTMS and her nomination was chosen from others entered throughout the state. She teaches language arts at our middle school, and in the past, she has taught home economics and served as cheerleader adviser. Mrs. West helped create the Idaho State Achievement Test and returns to Boise each year to write more test questions and try to hone the ISAT’s validity and efficiency. She also goes to Boise each year to help grade student writing for the state’s Direct Writing Assessment.
The students did a sincere and touching job of honoring their teacher. But the final words of the final child, Jose Villa, a blind and mentally handicapped student, made every teacher in the building cry... “Mrs. West, you’re the best Mrs. West. I love you Mrs. West!” And he does...and they do...and we all do.... Congratulations Kim!
