I am thrilled to nominate Kim for the Well Deserved stay at Sublime Samana.
Throughout my life, I don’t know if I have encountered a more thoughtful, giving, selfless person than Kim. She is a close friend of my family, but I consider her more like family.
If you take a look at Kim’s resume, you might get an idea of why this trip is so well-deserved. She has dedicated her life to children and the public education system. She’s a teacher. Enough said.
Originally from Philadelphia, in 2004 Kim decided to take a job in Colorado as a speech-language pathologist in one of the state’s highest-funded school districts. Although she loved her school and her time in Colorado, in 2019, she made the decision to move back home to be closer to family. She also made the decision to take a 50% pay cut and work as a speech-language pathologist and special needs teacher in one of Philadelphia’s most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods. When I asked her how she made this decision, she replied “If I don’t do it, who will?”. Since then, Kim has turned a decrepit utility room into a truly magical and colorful classroom. She teaches over 40 students of all ages. Kim goes to school every single day with a smile on her face. She gives these children, who are very often overlooked and silenced by society, a safe space to be themselves and to discover the superhero in all of them. This obviously hasn’t come without some complications. She has dealt with the students biting her. She understands that not being able to verbally communicate can be so frustrating, and sometimes students just react like that. On a much deeper level though, Kim has told me that not one day goes by where she doesn’t think about how she should react in an active-shooter situation. She is a teacher in 2023 in America, and she is not deterred. She is a bright light in so much darkness.
In March, Kim was featured on Philadelphia’s local news channel for her efforts in raising awareness and money for the Mass Down Syndrome Congress.
This past winter, Kim’s father got diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate already, Kim is now a primary caregiver for her father. Every day after school, she visits him in the hospital. She accompanies him to his doctor’s appointments and handles his medicine schedule and medical bills. She has remained positive and brave throughout the difficult time. Throughout all of this, Kim is still the most thoughtful person I know. In March, I got ACL surgery, and two days before my surgery I received a care package from Kim. It included a sweatsuit to wear the surgery, books, an ice pack, scar cream, and of course, my favorite snacks. Another friend who just had a baby said she received a similarly thoughtful care package from Kim. With all that is going on in her life, Kim is continuously making the world a better place. I don’t know how else to put it. She is a true angel. Kim never asks for anything, and frankly, she doesn’t treat herself too much. She lives simply and by her means. She would honestly never even consider treating herself to a posh vacation.
This is only a tiny window into the life and work of Kim, but I hope you can see how truly deserving she is of this stay at Sublime Samana. I appreciate your consideration.
