With twelve years of teaching experience behind her, Mrs. English is looking toward the future. Originally, she wanted to be a medical doctor, specifically a forensic pathologist, and work in a large crime lab like on the TV show CSI.

“Once I began to research locations of crime labs, I realized I would have to move far away from my family here in Arkansas in order to achieve my dream,” Mrs. English said. “Family is the most important thing to me, so I abandoned that idea and decided to earn a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) instead of a medical doctorate (MD).”

This graduate of both Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas at Monticello is currently working toward that goal. Mrs. English is majoring in Curriculum and Instruction with focus on Science education.

“There is never a perfect time to begin challenging things, but you’ll never succeed if you don’t begin,” Mrs. English said. “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

Before coming to Kimmons, Mrs. English taught science at Lavaca High School. She likes how the diversity of students here keeps things interesting.

“Every day brings different challenges, and figuring out how to best teach to a wide variety of personalities is an exciting opportunity,” Mrs. English said. “I love my students because they teach me things about their culture and heritage every day!”

Mrs. English loves the perks of being a teacher.

“I have the same schedule and vacation dates as my boys, Austin, Jackson, and Weston,” Mrs. English said.

As a Physical Science teacher, Mrs. English wants to engage students in interesting projects, events, trips that they would not otherwise experience.

“My goal is for students to leave my class a more well-rounded person than when they entered,” Mrs. English said. “Allowing my students to experience unusual things (like the field trips we take and the projects we do — tie dying shirts and bursting pumpkins) is designed to make learning fun and exciting! I believe students’ innate curiosity should be guided in a way that helps them learn how to be problem-solvers and able to think outside of the box.”

As a teacher, wife, and mother of three boys, Mrs. English faces many challenges.

“Juggling all of the events like my boys’ sports and managing my time is a challenge,” Mrs. English said. “I check my calendar constantly to stay organized and keep everything in sync. Currently all three of my boys are playing soccer and baseball, so we constantly run around to six different teams’ practices and games. Austin (9) and Weston (3) are athletes like I was. I don’t know how many more sports Jackson (6) will do since his interests are changing. He loves theater and acting like my husband does.”

Outside of school, Mrs. English likes to sleep every chance she gets, but she also enjoys organizing and decluttering her home and classroom.

“Organizing makes me feel in control of my surroundings and mind,” Mrs. English said. “Before I go to sleep at night, I have to make sure all of our clothes are picked out for the next morning, the boys’ bags are packed, and everything is ready to go. I even cook our breakfast and lunch the night before and put it in little plastic containers in the fridge.”

Before she leaves school each afternoon, Mrs. English has her lesson prepared, copies made, and desk organized so she can just walk in the next morning and be ready.

“Louis Pasteur (chemist and inventor of the pasteurization method of food preservation) stated that ‘Fortune favors the prepared mind’ meaning those who are prepared often have good luck or fortune,” Mrs. English said. “My personal motto is hope for the best, but plan for the worst. I believe there is no such thing as being over-prepared or too organized.”