Oprah’s Angel Network

Kimberly Worthy, an O Ambassadors club leader and seventh-grade teacher at Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science, received the 2009 Washington, D.C., Teacher of the Year award. She shared some of her teaching insights with us.

My key to keeping students engaged
Establish mutually respectful relationships with them, which includes knowing, respecting and including their cultures in our class lessons. I respect my students’ prior knowledge and experiences, and utilize their knowledge and experiences in the classroom. I teach and smile and laugh with my students as we learn together.

My most creative teaching method I like to employ
A culturally relevant, cross-curricular, comprehensive, project-based approach. I apply this method to both long-term projects and regular, daily lessons. This method is engaging, in-depth, creative, challenging, psychologically and emotionally safe and fun.

My favorite in-classroom technology
My 75-inch plasma screen that allows me to show relevant movies or educational clips. The television enables students and me to use PowerPoint presentations, display class notes and utilize various educational programs on the web. The television is designed to act as a touch-screen white board and synchronize with the classroom laptops. This really increases student engagement and participation.

Teacher of the Year, Kimberly Worthy, stands in front of her 75-inch plasma screen that's designed to act as a touch-screen white board and synchronize with classroom laptops.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Worthy

My teaching inspiration comes from
From the age of 3–10, I attended a private school in Washington, D.C., called Roots Activity Learning Center. Every morning we sang uplifting songs that exalted the pride of African-American culture. In one song, we sang the words, “Responsibility, duty to our people, goes hand-in-hand with freedom!” From these words, I learned that with my freedom comes responsibility. No matter how far I made it in life, it would always be my responsibility to give back to my community.

My average class size
20 students. I teach five different classes with 20 students.

Working with children is
My purpose in life—a privilege and duty to our community, nation and world. There is never a dull moment working with children. They are unpredictable, curious, precocious, challenging, witty and honest. They are geniuses that thirst for knowledge and creative expression and meaningful experiences.

Working with parents is
A crucial element to my students’ success. I email my students’ parents daily about assignments, projects, deadlines, school activities, positive behavior and behavior that needs to be improved. Parents are my allies. They ensure my success with my students. I go above and beyond to maintain a positive rapport with my students’ parents, for I value them greatly.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stopped by to thank Ms. Worthy and her students for their dedication to learning.

Photo courtesy of Howard University Middle School

How I approach standardized testing
I ensure my students’ success with standardized testing through my assignments, lessons and projects that teach and review basic standardized skills and content, while emphasizing the connectedness and relationship between all subjects, as well as the love of learning, exploring, applying and creating.

Knowing I’ve helped a child is
More rewarding than any amount of money.