Each step along the PAEMST road has been rewarding. I was honored and grateful to receive a nomination from a peer whom I admire and have co-taught with for several years. The process of creating math lessons, extensively reviewing and reflecting on the instruction, and then improving my practice based on what I had learned was very beneficial. To be recognized for my teaching, which has added so much joy to my life, is truly a blessing.

Kimberly Spencer Yarmouth, ME | K-6, Mathematics, 2008

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

An educator for 12 years, Kimberly Spencer has taught second through fourth grade at Yarmouth Elementary School in the Yarmouth School District since 1999. Colleagues consider her a lifelong learner who nurtures the development of critical thinkers and involved citizens. Using technology and specifically designed instruction, Mrs. Spencer engages her students in varied learning activities in which their voices are heard, their ideas are valued, and their individual interests are respected. Her class connects to the interactive "bugscope project" and plants tulips in the fall as part of an online learning project. Mrs. Spencer's class recorded movie clips of their poetry and plays and created slideshows depicting the biographical background of an individual in history who contributed to the community. These learning experiences are available for students to share with their families on the class Web page that she maintains. In recognition of her contributions to the Yarmouth School District, Mrs. Spencer was named the 2008 Educator of the Year. In 2006 she received a National Semiconductor Science in Action grant. Mrs. Spencer received a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for academics and community service from the University of Maine at Farmington, where she received a B.A., magna cum laude, in elementary education. To keep up with advancing technology, she has completed several graduate level courses at the University of Southern Maine and "Teaching and Learning with Technology" offered by the Yarmouth School Department for each of the past five years. She is certified in elementary education by the Maine Department of Education.

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