Teacher honored for compassion, enthusiasm and expertise
Mrs. Kim Berkley was recently selected to be honored for a teacher appreciation award sponsored by a local television station.
Mrs. Kim Berkley was the overwhelming favorite and is our Red Raider representative for Teacher Appreciation for WJAC-TV’s coverage of Friday Night Rivals planned for September 26.
For 35 years, Kim Berkley has been serving the youth of this area with compassion, enthusiasm and expertise, inspiring and caring for her students throughout their school careers and beyond. Following her own graduation as a proud Red Raider, Berkley went on to attend college and earn her teaching degree. She began her teaching career at Salisbury-Elk Lick School District and then came to Meyersdale Area Elementary School (MAES). She began teaching at MAES in kindergarten but moved to fourth and fifth grade, teaching science and social studies, classes she continues to teach today. Berkley’s teaching also extends outside of the classroom, where she teaches Sunday School at the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren.
Mrs. Berkley is well-known and respected for putting her students’ needs first in every aspect, providing them with careful guidance in a loving and engaging manner, while offering them with experiences and activities designed to enhance their education and their lives.
Terri Piatak is uniquely qualified to comment on Berkley’s selection for the WJAC promotion. Piatak not only taught and coached Berkley when she was in school, she has also had the honor of working with her at the Meyersdale Area Elementary School. “Kim Berkley is an excellent teacher because she finds a way to connect with ALL of her students. She makes her science classes relevant and up to date with the latest developments in all of her class levels. I had the pleasure of having Kim as a student and an athlete and she always gave her best effort! I now have the great fortune of working with her as a colleague in the elementary school. Meyersdale Area Elementary School is a very lucky school district to have Kim Berkley on their faculty!”
Kristi Sines, too, has a unique connection with Berkley. She served as a mentor for Sines when she began her own career in education and now has the pleasure of seeing her own son flourish under Berkley’s tutelage. “As a colleague, I have witnessed the intangible traits that make Kim such an incredible teacher. She is dedicated to seeing her students succeed with an innate ability to bring science to life. She has a resounding quality of making sure that every student in the room feels welcomed and special which makes the students in turn fall in love with science. As a parent, it has been a joy to see the sparkle in my son’s eyes as he talks about what he learned in science class and the engaged learning that occurs in her classroom. Mrs. Berkley’s enthusiasm and ingenuity drives students’ curiosity toward a love of science.”
Like Sines, Mike Swick has a deep connection to Berkley through his work and personal life alike. Swick also teaches at Meyersdale Area School District and works with her at the Meyersdale Church of Brethren. “Kim Berkley is a dedicated teacher who works to inspire students to love learning. She is great at getting students hooked on learning science to the point that they want to go home and share what they have learned with their parents,” Swick explained. “Kim is also a teacher who truly and deeply cares about her students. They know that they can go to her if they’re having a difficult situation and she will do her best to assist them. She has a deep affection for her kids and many of them enjoy getting a chance to see Mrs. Berkley on her evening walks.”
MAES Principal Devin Pritts said the impact Berkley has had on students is lasting and impressive. “We are incredibly proud of Kim Berkley for her dedication to Meyersdale students, families, and community. Her kindness and caring nature shine through in everything she does. Kim is not only an engaging and inspiring teacher, but also a genuinely compassionate individual. In her classroom, students feel supported and loved while being challenged to meet her high expectations. She is a true example of what it means to be a Red Raider, and we are grateful to have her as part of Meyersdale Area Elementary School.”