Kim Smith's story is one of resolve and resilience.

It's a story of sorrow and surprise, music, and moments.

It's a testament to what a person can accomplish after seeing empathy in the eyes of second-graders and forging forward in the face of tragedy while being backed by the compassion of a community.

It's a success story.

Being named Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) School District 2024-25 Teacher of the Year isn't the end of Kim's story, but it is an opportunity to pause for reflection and appreciation.

Kim, a second-grade teacher at Lampeter Elementary School, said she is often asked what makes her different than other teachers. Her son, Ryan, who was a basketball star at L-S, died of leukemia four and a half years ago. That experience caused Kim to see things in a new light. "I have a lot of resilience to be able to come back into a (teaching) position after such a big loss," she said.

Ryan was a beloved member of the L-S community, and Kim cherishes his memory daily. "All the kids in my classroom know who Ryan was and that his basketball number was 5," she said. "All the parents know who Ryan was. It's pretty amazing how empathetic kids can be at such a young age. I'm glad to be able to share that with them and allow them to see my resilience. If something happens in their life, hopefully I've modeled for them that they can find a pathway to move forward. Even though you're not going to be the same person, it's really important that you find a path to move forward."

Kim said she now has a better understanding of what students may be going through. "I realize that everybody has hard days," she said. "You never know what kids are bringing to school. It has opened my eyes to knowing that there are children struggling in different ways and I have to find ways to engage them and get them to open up."

Kim's students played a big part in notifying her she had been selected Teacher of the Year. She was picking up her students from music class and was greeted at the door by instructor Patricia Creighton. "I walked inside, and the students had hand-clappers they were flapping back and forth," Kim recalled. "I saw my principal (Michele Westphal) and (school district communications director) Anne Harnish were there, and they all started singing to me. I had no idea what was happening. No clue."

Students serenaded Kim with customized lyrics to the tune of a song they knew: "Dr. Seuss, We Love You."

"The students then brainstormed things they love about Mrs. Smith to replace the lyrics to be about her, and made their ideas fit the tune," Creighton explained.

A sample of the lyrics:

Mrs. Smith, we love you / Mrs. Smith, we really do! / Mrs. Smith, we love you, doodley doo doo doo.

You're kind and helpful and caring / Reading and math is fun with you / You're happy, nice, and thoughtful / We are thankful for you! 

"I looked at my principal, and she said, 'Congratulations! You got Teacher of the Year,'" said Kim. "I was just really surprised."

Westphal stated, "Mrs. Smith is a professional, compassionate, resilient, and inspiring educator who creates a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow as learners. She advocates tirelessly for her students, collaborating with parents and colleagues to ensure that every child's needs are met and that every decision is made with their best interests at heart."

A 1989 graduate of L-S, Kim concluded her 26th year of teaching, with 20 of them in the L-S School District.

Her late mother, Beverly Bjornson, was a teacher, and Kim said she has always loved being around children. "(Teaching) was something that was always in the back of my mind," she said. "Once I decided to go to college (at West Virginia University), I thought I would pursue education and see if I like it. I did enjoy it. I loved the classes."

Kim began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Manheim Township for six years before taking time to raise her three children. She then worked as a reading specialist and has spent the last 11 years in the classroom. "Teaching in second grade, all the kids still love school," joked Kim, who has earned a master's degree and reading specialist certification from Millersville University.

She still gets a thrill from watching her students learn. "One of the things I really enjoy is when kids have those 'light-bulb moments,'" Kim said. "You work so hard to get them to understand a concept, and finally the light bulb goes on for them, and they're like, 'Ahh, I get it.' That, for me, is so rewarding."

Her methods are constructive and uncomplicated. "I like to engage the students as much as possible, trying to make learning hands-on and trying to make it as real life as it can possibly be, so the kids can try to make connections with everything that we do," Kim said. "I try hard to incorporate fun ways to get their attention, and I try to honor every child as an individual and try to build on what they came with, knowing that every child is so different and every child's needs are different, as well."

Kim does not enjoy being the center of attention, but she is honored to be singled out from a group of talented teachers. "I feel like any single teacher could be nominated as Teacher of the Year," she said. "We have such a dedicated, professional staff that always puts the best interests of the kids at heart. So to be recognized is a little bit humbling."