Kim Keebler, a reading teacher at Newsome High School, has displayed remarkable work in educating her seniors. Her students displayed wonderful effort and passed the reading benchmark for graduation. As a result, she was awarded the 16th District Congressional Teacher of the Year Award. 

    “I am so proud of all of them!” says Keebler, when it came to the results of her seniors. 

  Keebler has been a teacher in Hillsborough County for 14 years and has been teaching at Newsome for 

seven years. This year she teaches test-taking strategies and reading to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

   This award is aimed to honor “exceptional teachers for their outstanding achievements on behalf of students,” says Congressman Vern Buchanan. As the title states, she has performed the best out of any teacher within the 16th Congressional District of Florida. 

   Newsome High School has hit an all-time population spike, meaning teachers must be more diligent than ever in attending to their students. But, by working away extensively for the sake of their students, teachers will be rewarded for their efforts, much like Keebler. 

   “I am thrilled to be recognized amongst so many strong educators who work tirelessly to positively impact their students,” says Keebler.  To make matters even better, the announcement of her award happened the day before her birthday.

   She gives her thanks to many influences on her teaching career. These include her family members – her mother and her Aunt Cathy – Ellie Reifsnyder of Mango Elementary School and Sandra Misciasci, the literary coach of Newsome, for having a significant impact on her career in teaching at Newsome.