by Nicolas M.

Ms. Kimberly Brady, a sixth-grade math teacher at Alamo Heights Junior School, has been awarded Teacher of the Year for 2024. The award recognized her teaching of fundamental math skills and functions, as well as her involvement with the school. Dr. Guthrie, principal at AHJS, shared while talking about Ms. Brady’s qualities that, “[She’s] an excellent teacher, someone that’s innovative, creative, [and] creates a classroom environment that kids want to be in.”

Ms. Brady set up the eighth-grade dance, and she is also a sponsor for the student council as well as sixth-grade girls’ service club. Dr. Guthrie shared that she was always at events like Mulch Mania and the Woodridge Carnival, and when he looked at the volunteer sheet, her name was always on it.

Ms. Brady is one of the teachers who will impact students. She is in charge of the transition between elementary and middle school and their processing of one of the hardest topics for students to understand. Ms. Brady mentioned that teaching is constantly changing and evolving in my interview with her. This isn’t even her first award. In 2010, she won the Math and Science Teacher Award from the San Antonio mayor. To keep teaching consistently for almost fifteen years now is really impressive to me.

When asking Ms. Brady if she thinks she deserved the award, she said, “Absolutely not. We have such amazing teachers at our school. , I am absolutely honored to have received this, but I think this award, um, is not deserving of just one person.” Ms. Brady continued, “Like a group of teachers, if not just our entire school.”

Whoever wins the award becomes a candidate for the Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award. Similar to Teacher of the Year with a couple tweaks, it is also very important and one of the highest honors a teacher can receive. Dr. Guthrie would send a recommendation letter that explains some basic facts about the teacher, and that letter goes straight to Trinity University.

The process takes about about a month, fellow teacher Ms. Baker shared. Ms. Brady and Ms. Baker then shared that there is a nomination and then a vote, so it takes less than a month in conclusion. Dr. Guthrie provided more information about it, saying, “So normally about the end of October, first of November, uh, we start to ask our teachers for nominations for Teacher of the Year.”

Dr. Guthrie described the entire process of the decision-making for the award, saying, “I do it in a Google form and I make sure there are a couple of requirements that you have to, uh, meet in order to be Teacher of the Year. You have to have been teaching for at least two years, you have to have a full teaching schedule. There’s just some things like that.” He goes on to mention that around five teachers were nominated. Dr. Guthrie continued explaining the process, saying, “Then, I send those names out to all of our teachers and then everybody votes, and that usually goes on for about a week or ten days. At that point, it’s really simple. Whoever gets the most votes wins.” The staff makes a certificate, takes pictures, and posts them on social media for our proud district and community to see.

The award is a great way to show what Ms. Brady does not only during school hours but early in the morning and after school, always contributing her own time to students. Her impact will make a difference beyond the classroom and change the way students think. Ms. Brady is a great teacher, and like the students, she is learning and becoming a better teacher every day here at The Junior School.