Henrico's Top Teachers – Kim Clem, Ward Elementary School, second grade

She jumped around states and schools every two years as a kid. Now, she’s celebrating 30 years as a second-grade teacher at the same Henrico school.

Kim Clem has taught at Ward Elementary since its opening in 1995. And as a kid who moved around a lot, she strives to create a warm presence for all students.

“It’s made me be a teacher that’s really aware of students and how they feel in the classroom,” Clem said.

Students come in and out of the classroom all the time. And even if there’s a surprise knock on the door with a new student, she always makes sure they feel that they belong.

“If they don’t feel comfortable, welcome and supported in my classroom, they’re not going to be able to achieve at the level I want them to,” Clem added.

Clem keeps a binder filled with class pictures dating back 30 years. She’s taught for so long that her former students are bringing their own children to Ward.

At open house last year, a father walked into her classroom and asked if she remembered him. She did. And with his son, they flipped through the binder to find his old class picture.

“One of the things that makes me the happiest is when my former students come back,” Clem said. “As educators, we have a little piece of them along the way.”

One nominator wrote that what keeps them coming back is the impact she leaves on students.

“She fosters a supportive and engaging classroom where every student feels valued and encouraged to succeed,” the nominator said. “Her patience and kindness have helped struggling students find success, while her positive attitude encourages them to persevere through challenges.”

Clem focuses on her students’ lives, not just the math lesson, she said. Last year, she supported a student who needed support with managing emotions. And at the end of the year, the student lost a close family member. Her support for the student didn’t end when the bell rang on the last day.

“This year, I’ve had the opportunity to be his behind-the-scenes cheerleader,” she said. “At the beginning of the day, I give him a little pep talk for the day, and then at the end of the day, I review his day with him, and spotlight on the things that he has done really well.”

Clem’s impact goes beyond the classroom walls. As a veteran teacher, she’s also a leader in the school community.

“I’ve been there so long, I’m the person that people come to and run things by me, all the time,” she said. “I’m pretty invested in Ward, and I want it to be successful.”

At the end of the school day, she’s always brainstorming how to improve her lessons.

“I’m always sitting at night and figuring out what I can do to bridge that gap for them,” Clem said. “It’s almost every part of my day.”

But the sleepless nights are forgotten when she is teaching her students, or little humans, she said.

“Teaching is a lot of hard work,” Clem said. “But so much of it is rewarding.”