Kim Whitaker

I was born and raised in Plant City, a small rural town in central Florida near Tampa. After high school I lived in Gainesville, FL where I attended the University of Florida. After graduation, I lived in Washington, D.C. for two years before moving to Nashville. I’ve been in Nashville since 2003 and it definitely feels like home now.

My dad was a medical resident when I was born (he actually was able to deliver me when my mom’s doctor couldn’t get there in time!). He and my mom had a close friend who was a family practice resident alongside my dad. They had already decided on my name, which is the same as hers, but they loved her unique spelling, Kimberlee.

If you had told me that I would become a teacher at the time of my college graduation, I never would have believed you. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I studied Political Science and Spanish in college and had dreams of working in politics. After a couple of years in D.C. and two years working in state politics here in Nashville, I decided that it was not for me. 

After living in Nashville for a short while, I met someone that likely changed the direction of my life, or at least opened my eyes to a new path I never imagined. I met a woman who was a Spanish teacher at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend. We hit it off right away and we talked about travels to Spanish-speaking countries, and all the things we loved about the language and cultures of these places that drew us to wanting to learn and immerse ourselves in them. She told me about her path to becoming a teacher and it had been something that continued to enter my mind as a career option. Conversations and encouragement from her gave me the nudge to begin my Masters in Teaching Spanish and eventually begin my career as a teacher.

My path as a teacher has been a winding one, teaching Spanish to students in preschool through high school, discovering a love for early childhood education, and finally getting my dream job of working at a nature-based school.

I am the Campus Director at our Pecan Valley Campus. In this position I see my priority is ensuring the children in our care are safe and joyfully learning everyday. All of the things in my job description support this effort. I collaborate with the teachers on project and curriculum development in order to support their efforts to bring their very best to the children. I work in partnership with parents to support their child’s learning and social development. I collaborate with my fellow directors and educators to bring meaningful experiences to the children and our entire school community. 

My dad, who was a natural teacher with so much patience and intention on letting me figure things out on my own through trial and error, but with his constant guidance and support. My horseback riding instructor, who delivered her high standards with a somewhat “tough love” approach, taught me to accept feedback and made me want to put my best effort into all my endeavors.

It feels like I have come full circle in my life. As a child I spent most of my time outdoors helping in my family’s orange grove, riding horses, or working with our cattle. As a young adult I convinced myself I wanted to get as far away from that life as possible. I saw myself taking the path of working in an office in a big city far away. I never made it all the way back home, but I have found that my true self is not far off from that young child who loved spending most of her time with animals and daydreaming outside.

I enjoy going to live events such as concerts, plays, and stand-up comedy shows. I love to dance. Whether it's at a music venue or a class at the gym, moving to music always makes me feel alive and happy. Most of my favorite activities involve being outside such as hiking, paddling, or swimming. Spending time with my family, whether it’s traveling to a new destination or snuggling up for a movie on the couch is my favorite thing to do.

I have been a life-long Spanish language learner. I began taking adult tap lessons last year. I am no good, but I love it! It is like learning a new language, with physical challenges added to the mental challenge.  

Everything! I enjoy experimenting with new foods and will pretty much try anything once. My favorite types of cuisine are Mexican and Thai.

Shades of blue and green are my favorite because they remind me of trees and a clear sky.

My hope is to explore more artistic endeavors such as watercolor painting and working with clay.

My co-workers, our families, and our students make me excited to come to work each day and to also think big about what is possible for the future of our school. It is a gift to see and be part of the learning experiences everyday. It is apparent in the literature and research that the outdoor and inquiry-based school movement has influenced many educational systems across the country in a positive way. My ambition is that our work at A New Leaf has the same impact on the educational landscape of Nashville and the state of Tennessee. I believe our work is significant and impactful. It motivates me to be part of the effort to communicate the importance of what we do to a broader audience.