- Talladega isn’t just the home of a NASCAR track, part of the title of a Will Ferrell movie, or the subject of an Eric Church song.
It’s the home of Kimberly Mitchell, Family and Consumer Science teacher extraordinaire. Kim is a high school FCS teacher by day at the Talladega City Career and Technology Center and post-secondary FCS instructor by night at Jacksonville State University.
- Passion doesn’t begin to describe how Kim feels about Career and Technical Education. Early in life, she was interested in a variety of CTE careers, such as nursing and accounting, but it was her Family and Consumer Sciences teacher that motivated her to become a FCS teacher herself. 22 years in and Kim has never regretted the path she has taken. She is involved in ACTE, AAFCS, CLAS (Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools), AEA/NEA, and Alpha Delta Kappa. She is the immediate Past President of Alabama ACTE. She truly serves her profession.
- Change has been very evident in Kim’s career. Over her 22 years, career and technical education has gained respect. The mindset has shifted from one of vocational and trade education being for those who won’t go to college to one of career and technical education being for everyone. The focus has shifted to being career oriented and CTE now attracts the best and brightest.
- Advocacy is incredibly important to Kim. Through her experiences serving in professional organizations, she has learned a great deal about not only how to advocate for her students and programs, but she has also learned how to build a capacity for advocacy in her students. She trains her students to advocate for CTE programs and student organizations within her state and in Washington, D.C.
- The ACTE Fellowship Program was one of the best things Kim has ever done professionally. The program helped her network with other CTE leaders across the nation and build her capacity for the aforementioned advocacy. She enjoyed her year and has given back by serving as a mentor for two previous fellows and is currently serving as my mentor. From the first ACTE Fellow from Kentucky to the first ACTE Fellow from Alabama, thank you!
