What Brought You to AHS? — My children were playing in the after-school Lyceum Orchestra program. I loved the feeling I felt while waiting for them during rehearsals. My husband and I felt prompted to bring our two younger children to AHS. I was teaching at Lone Peak High School at the time and decided to become a substitute instead so I could volunteer at American Heritage. While volunteering each week in my daughter’s eighth-grade class, I learned more and more about the curriculum, teaching methods, and beautiful gospel weaving of spiritual and secular knowledge. I became a substitute for AHS and then a teacher when a spot unexpectedly opened in the same class I had been with each week. The Lord’s hand was surely involved in my journey to teach eighth grade at American Heritage School!
Favorite Student Interaction — Each day is fun and fulfilling as I spend time with some of the most valiant and noble people on this earth! I laugh, cry, and stand in awe of them as our paths intersect during one of the most critical times of their lives. It is a joy and honor to teach and learn from them. They are an inspiration to me. The Lord opens my eyes to see beyond the outside to their divine identity. He helps me know how to teach and love them. Each student is a unique individual with their own strengths and challenges. I love the process of discovering this as I pray about them by name, communicate with parents, plan curriculum, create a safe environment for sharing, and give them leadership opportunities.
Curriculum Highlight — I love looking at U.S. History, Literature and Language Arts through the lens of families. We study and memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Being able to relate the curriculum to each of them as beloved sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents, and then to their special place in their own families, and finally in the family of God is incredibly meaningful. I also love to see their eyes light up with stories of heroic men and women who met, fought, and overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges. These mentors, through history and literature, give students hope to overcome their own challenges. I feel blessed to have a look inside their thoughts and feelings as they express themselves in writing. It is wonderful and rewarding to watch these skills increase throughout the year and to see the joy and peace that comes with the ability to use this gift from God. I also teach a Patterns of Virtue class on mental wellness called “Brilliant and Resilient”. Seeing a need for my students to learn and practice healthy coping skills for the challenges of their day, we work to set goals and employ various ways of finding balance and peace. This is critical to their ability to access the curriculum and soar academically.
Why Teaching? — I started in the Behavior Sciences field with a desire to help children in difficult situations. I earned an A.S. degree in Ethnic Minority Health and Human Services and learned amazing lessons about compassion, families, and children before starting my own family. I returned to school and finished a degree in Education with the same desire to help parents and children with compassion. I get excited about finding new and creative ways to teach using technology, art, music, hands-on experiences, guest speakers, field trips, and more. It’s fun!
Family — I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and four children. Two of my children have attended American Heritage, which has been a rich experience and helped me know how to prepare my students for high school. We are a musical family playing piano, organ, cello, guitar, and singing in several community choirs. We have also been blessed to have a wonderful extended family and local and international friends. I often joke that our home has an international revolving door, welcoming exchange students and people we each meet through various activities we are involved in. We love culture, language, and traveling to warm places.
Education — Bachelor of Arts in Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities K-12 and Elementary K-8; Associate of Arts in Ethnic Minority Health and Human Services.
“Our classroom is a safe place to explore a new stage of life, new ideas, new knowledge, new friends, and the growth of testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We grow together throughout the year in unexpected and beautiful ways.”
– Mrs. Faerber
Hobbies
I love hiking and being outside in nature, reading a variety of genres and scriptures, book clubs, teaching at home, church, and school, music (I play the cello, piano, and sing), being with my family, and good, heartfelt conversation. – Mrs. Faerber
Kimberly has as a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities K-12 and Elementary K-8, Associate of Arts in Ethnic Minority Health and Human Services. Through the gentle guidance of the Lord, Kimberly found herself at AHS as a parent, and then as an 8th grade aide, and eventually as a full-time 8th grade teacher when the opportunity arose. “It has been an immense blessing for our family and for me personally. Each student is a unique individual with their own strengths and challenges. I love the process of discovering this as I pray about them by name, communicate with parents, plan curriculum, create a safe environment for sharing and give them leadership opportunities.” She gets excited about finding new and creative ways to teach using technology, art, music, hands on experiences, guest speakers, field trips and more. Kimberly enjoys being with her family, she plays the cello, piano, and sings.
