Winona Elementary School Principal Kim Tymkowicz interacts with second-graders learning about mealworms at the Loveland school Thursday. Tymkowicz was named Educator of the Year by the Thompson Education Foundation. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Herald reporter)
Winona Elementary School Principal Kim Timkowicz was named the Thompson Education Foundation's Educator of the Year Wednesday at the foundation's 16th annual Educator Appreciation Breakfast.
Tymkovic said she knew she had been nominated, but she didn't expect to win anything, certainly not Educator of the Year. She thought she would probably be named principal of the year, but that honor went to Mountain View High School assistant principal Mary Lane.
“Then the moment they said the phrase 'Every Kid, Every Day,' I thought it could be me, because that's our phrase,” she said. “Instead of having a long mission statement or vision statement that people can't remember, everything we do revolves around 'Every Kid, Every Day.'”
Other honorees include TSD Staff Member of the Year Raquel Castillo, a social worker from Mountain View, and Sara Rosenberry, principal secretary at Ferguson High School and Thompson Career Campus. The Emerging Teacher of the Year award went to Jesse Chollet, a math teacher from Mountain View. Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Scott Skies, his third grade teacher at Big Thompson Elementary School; And the Secondary Teacher of the Year went to Lisa Harrison, learning center teacher at Thompson Valley High School.
After Timkovic's win, staff and students praised her.
A student in one of her classes gave her a stack of handmade cards congratulating her.
“You can point to any child in this school and tell her about their family, their history, what they need,” said Jessica Gray, Winona's social worker. I know the family,” he said. “I have never worked with any of the principals involved in this.”
“Kim does great things every day. It's nice to be recognized for meeting people where they are. She meets kids where they are every day.” said Jordan Pendleton, the school's secretary and one of Winona's two students. The employee who nominated Tymkovic.
“I don't know how she does everything,” added Ashley Ingram, a nurse's office assistant. “She's a superhuman.”
Her parents also appreciate her work.
Winona parent Anna Pollock Nelson rode her bike to Winona Thursday afternoon and ended up spending a few minutes visiting with staff, including Tymkowicz.
She chose to send her daughter to Winona over New Vision Charter School, which was closer to home, due to the principal's wishes.
“We live across the street from the charter school,” Pollock-Nelson said as she prepared to drive home. “So right before my daughter started kindergarten, we toured New Vision, and Winona toured, too. And Kim gave us a tour. She told us about the students, It really showed that they cared about their families and it gave us a very warm feeling. That's why we decided to come here.”
