Out of the more than 13,000 public school teachers in Palm Beach County, an educator working at Polo Park Middle School in Wellington has been named Teacher of the Year.
That teacher is 34-year-old Kimberly Stalker, who was awarded the high honor on Thursday, Jan. 30 during the fourth annual “Celebrate the Great” awards ceremony. During that ceremony, the county’s Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year were also recognized and honored.
The awards program, which took place at the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County’s new Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation, was sponsored by United Healthcare.
In addition to Stalker being named Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year went to Shauntay King from Pine Grove Elementary School in Delray Beach, Assistant Principal of the Year was awarded to Guy Tabuteau from Pahokee Middle-Senior High School, and the School-Related Employee of the Year is Yasmin Balaguer of Allamanda Elementary School in Palm Beach Gardens.
The four winners will represent the Palm Beach County School District as they go on to compete at the state level as part of the Florida Department of Education’s recognition programs.
“We are ‘A’ rated, thanks to all of you and your hard work,” Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Michael Burke said during the awards ceremony. “The principals, their vision, leadership and unwavering dedication on their campuses forms that school community. Assistant principals, they are the quiet architects of student success. Our teachers are the heart and soul of the district, who shape not just minds, but futures. Our school-related employees are unsung heroes who ensure that every day runs smoothly.”
Polo Park Middle School Principal Dr. Jennifer Galindo is thrilled to have such a bright, talented and driven teacher as Stalker on her staff.
“She is amazing and a ray of sunshine in our school,” Galindo said. “She is passionate about teaching and loves what she does. She is a dynamic teacher who teaches all the design processes and critical thinking in her sixth-grade engineering class. If I could clone her, I would. Every school deserves to have a Ms. Stalker on its staff.”
Stalker was thrilled, honored and stunned by the recent recognition.
“When they announced my name, it was an unreal feeling,” Stalker said. “For me, it was a Grammy moment. I was overwhelmed. Like all teachers, we take dignity and pride in our work. I am truly honored to represent the thousands of great public-school teachers in Palm Beach County and throughout the State of Florida.”
While she was honored to have been chosen, her students at Polo Park were more excited.
“They held my trophy like they had just won the Super Bowl or the World Cup in soccer,” Stalker said. “They felt like they were the students of the year. They are my students of the year. They were proud of themselves and me.”
Stalker said that the notes of congratulations that she has received in the last week via social media, text messages and phone calls have been heartwarming and much appreciated — and a bit overwhelming.
Stalker is a product of the Palm Beach County School System. She attended North Palm Beach Elementary School, Independence Middle School in Jupiter and Jupiter High School. She graduated from JHS in 2008. Stalker earned her undergraduate degree in nutritional science from the University of Florida in 2012 and her master’s degree in education in 2014.
“Standing up here representing all teachers in the School District of Palm Beach County is truly a ‘pinch me’ moment, especially as someone who grew up attending Palm Beach County schools,” Stalker said. “[It’s important to] see the potential in each student while reminding them that they matter beyond the classroom. I truly love that I get to be a teacher.”
She has been teaching for 11 years in Florida, seven years in the Orlando area and four years at Polo Park. “In my first two years at Polo Park, I taught eighth-grade science, and during the last two years, I have taught sixth-grade engineering,” Stalker said.
Stalker’s dedication to providing hands-on activities for students allows them to connect science and engineering to real-world applications, which enhances and supports their engagement and achievement. Her approach as a creative and enthusiastic educator extends beyond the classroom, as she inspires girls to pursue STEM fields. She also mentors new teachers.
“Ms. Stalker is trained in coaching and spends a great deal of time with new teachers,” Galindo said.
In addition to students in Palm Beach County, Stalker maintains a collegiate education connection.
“I’m an advisor for the Sigma Kappa sorority at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, which has allowed me to further inspire women in the STEM profession,” Stalker said.
Besides a big trophy for her Teacher of the Year award, Stalker also received a handful of gift card prizes and a check for $2,000. When asked if she also received a free trip to Walt Disney World, she said that she didn’t, but she did say that the $2,000 check would help pay for a trip or two to the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
When she’s not teaching or preparing her next lesson plan, Stalker enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, and, of course, bragging about her students at Polo Park Middle School.
