Kimberly Walrod ’23 has received the STEM/STEAM Educator of the Year Award from Bell Fork Elementary School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Walrod, a first-year fifth grade teacher, was selected for the award because of her dedication to making learning in math and science fun by bringing technology and hands-on projects into the students’ everyday learning.
“As a math and science teacher, I have worked with my students to incorporate technology into their work so that they not only are learning the material, but they are also learning how to advance further into our 21st Century world,” she said. “We create projects, such as their weather projects where they had to do research into a ‘wild weather system’ and create projects that demonstrated those important facts they learned. Many of them created projects that included simulated lightning and wind.”
Walrod graduated from UNCW’s Watson College in May 2023 with a degree in Elementary Education. She said teaching has always been a dream of hers and Bell Fork is the perfect place to begin her teaching career.
“As a young girl, I looked up to my teachers and always wanted to be the teacher’s helper. I spent my field experience as well as my internship at Bell Fork Elementary in 4th grade and truly found my heart calling me to continue my work here. Our school has some amazing staff and faculty that I am so proud to be a part of,” she said. “It was an honor to receive such an award in my first year of teaching because I have learned so much through my courses at Watson as well as my mentor here at Bell Fork.”
Dr. Traci Bellas, a lecturer in WCE’s Elementary Education program and coordinator of the Onslow Extension Ed Lab, said she was thrilled to see Walrod received this award.
“As a student, Kimberly was always seeking innovative ways to connect with her students. She learned the importance of relationships and how teachers can leverage student interests into their class lessons. Kimberly is an outstanding teacher,” Bellas said. “She has a clear passion for teaching. I have no doubt she has a long and bright future in the classroom.”
“I have found that teaching is so much more than teaching curriculum,” Walrod said. “The relationships I’ve built with my students have driven me to want to be the best version of myself that I can be. They drive me to want to learn more and do more in this field. I have been chosen as a participant in the AVID Summer Institute this summer in Baltimore so that I can further my skills in preparing my students for college and career readiness. I try and jump at every opportunity I can for learning more to better myself as an educator!”
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