Kimberli Kern
I was destined to be a teacher, or so my mother told me when I pushed my sisters against the wall of a room and shoved a book under their noses to make them read. As I grew up in the southeast Arkansas Delta (that’s the farming area near the Mississippi River, for those who are unfamiliar), I followed this destiny with similar zeal (though not nearly as violently)! I am not sure that I could help it though, as my father, mother, and one of my two sisters are all educators (my other sister is the odd man out; she’s an RN, but we let it slide).
I quickly found that reading is my true passion, and as a result, I served as a teacher (different grade levels), literacy coach, and reading specialist for fifteen years (talk about doing what you love!). The more I worked in the field of reading, the more I wanted to share my passion with others, and I found the perfect opportunity to do so with Benchmark Education Company, where I work with students and teachers to promote literacy.
My professional title is “National Literacy Consultant.” (Sounds terribly important, doesn’t it?) This means that I’m given the opportunity to collaborate with educators, present at conferences, and provide professional development trainings on a national level. When I travel, I always bring along my nice Southern accent and my sense of humor!
Traveling across the country (planes, trains, and automobiles) is always interesting, but when I’m off the road, I am with the ones I love: my handsome husband, two precious (they really are) teenagers, and sweet April (the family Chihuahua).
As education has changed over the years, it’s been a pleasure to work at Benchmark. At the heart of it, I am an educator. But in another sense, I am still the child, wisely wishing to share my joy of reading with the world.