Kimberly J. Fountain has been teaching for 23 years and currently instructs biology students at Warren Central High School.

Fountain is a finalist for the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. One elementary and one secondary teacher of the year will be announced at the Chamber Luncheon in February. The winner of each award will receive $1,000 from Ameristar Casino and the runners-up for each award will receive $500 from Mutual Credit Union. 

Fountain earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Alcorn State University.

Fountain said science is a great tool to help her students relate to everyday life. 

“A lesson that defines me as a teacher would be the cell function and organization through exploration of the structure and function of organelles through an interactive and collaborative approach,” she said. “To engage students, I compared the cell to the city of Vicksburg, where each organelle performs a specific function to keep the system functioning. Students were allowed to use technology to take virtual tours of the cell to deepen their understanding and assist with their hands-on model.”

Fountain said the real-world applications of science will affect students the rest of their lives.

“I ensure that my students are connected to the world around them by incorporating strategies that link biology concepts to real-world issues and applications,” she said. “I use case studies and current events to connect biology concepts to current global issues. Students also engage in projects that address real-world problems, such as designing a sustainable ecosystem model using a two-liter bottle or researching solutions to the overgrowth of kudzu, an invasive plant that is not native to our area. By incorporating these strategies, I ensure that students not only understand the concepts, but see their relevance in their world.”

Even measuring student achievement comes down to science, Fountain said.

“My instruction is data-driven, informed by students’ prior state test scores and their performance on current assessments in my classroom,” she said. “At the start of each until, I administer a pretest to identify strengths and areas of improvement. For students requiring additional support, I provide targeted instruction through small groups or one-on-one sessions, while advanced learners engage in challenging extension activities.”

And seeing that she has made a difference in her students’ lives is a moving experience, Fountain said.

“One of my most moving educational experiences was when the valedictorian shared how much of an impact I had on their life,” she said. “They expressed gratitude not only for the way I prepared them for the state test, but also for how I equipped them for college and the real world.”

And preparing her students for their next steps, Fountain said, is a big part of why she sees teaching as more of a calling than a profession.

“I teach because it allows me to inspire curiosity and empowers students to explore,” she said.