With summer rapidly coming to a close, back-to-school agendas begin to replace beach bathing in the minds of (some) students. The new school year promises several new beginnings, and at least one person is very excited for school to start.
“I can’t wait,” said Chi Kim, who, as the new principal of Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School, is eager to get to know the students and community.
“I’m here to be a part of the community and help their children,” said Kim, who said she plans to be “actively involved in the classroom working with students directly and impacting change at the classroom level.”
A former teacher, Kim finds being an educator “a great, rewarding career.”
“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Kim of her profession, who notes “being around the kids” and “working with great people” as the perks of her job.
Her interest in children began at a young age, as did her excitement for learning.
“I’ve always had an affinity for children,” said Kim, who used to baby-sit and teach younger family members about everything from “loading the dishwasher” to “locating seashells.”
“As a kid, I would sit with the adults because they told the best stories. This had a huge impact on me,” Kim said.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim’s parents brought Kim and her older brother and sister to California when she was three. She grew up in La Mirada and Torrance before attending UCLA where she earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education, as well as a teaching credential.
Starting out in an infant development program, Kim learned about a program called the Inglewood Project. She signed up and taught fifth and sixth grade at Kelso Elementary School in Inglewood for nine years, where she also served as a teaching assistant principal for two years.
“Nobody should say, ‘I’m just a teacher,’ ” Kim said, emphasizing the important role teachers play in a student’s education. “They’re so much more.”
“Sometimes they may not listen, but they see and hear what we do,” she said.
Kim believes developing values in students is an essential part of their education.
“In addition to providing an academically challenging environment, it is equally important to develop students to be really great people. Then they can be a model to other students, the environment and the community,” Kim said.
Kim plans to implement community service programs with the aim of creating responsible, socially aware individuals.
“Community service begins with our learning community,” Kim said. “I want to really try to figure out ways to provide leadership opportunities for students to get involved in their school community,” she said.
Some ideas were to have older students read to younger students in their classes and to involve students with taking care of the school gardens.
“Better well done than well said,” a quote by Benjamin Franklin is one of Kim’s favorites, indicating her actions-and-results-oriented approach to leadership. Attitude is another crucial factor in getting things done.
“You have to lead a school with spirit and enthusiasm,” Kim said.
Before coming to Point Dume, Kim served as principal of Reed Elementary School in Tiburon, located in Northern California.
Under her leadership, during the last of her three years at Reed Elementary, the school received the distinction of California Distinguished School for Academic Excellence, an honor given to a limited number of schools recognized for exemplary educational programs meeting the needs of the whole child.
She was drawn to Point Dume for its small school setting and emphasis on marine science, as well as its proximity to her new husband and stepdaughter.
“Wonderful life happenings bring me back to Southern California and to Point Dume: love and family,” wrote Kim in a letter of introduction sent out to the school community.
Kim recently married JF Finn, an architect from Venice, Calif. The newlyweds returned from a Hawaiian honeymoon just weeks ago. They live in Pacific Palisades, and when she’s not working, Kim spends time with her new family.
“I’m learning how to be a wife and a stepmom,” she said.
Symbols for “happiness” and “love” adorn the walls of her office, as does the artwork of Pablo Picasso and pictures of friends and family, revealing Kim’s upbeat, friendly personality.
As part of the Santa Monica-Malibu School District, Kim wants to forge good relationships with other area administrators as they work together toward common goals.
She also believes in working with parents and community to create a positive learning environment.
“Communication is the key,” said Kim, who wrote in a letter to the PDMSS community. “Positive, constructive communication between school and home is the key to nurturing, teaching and inspiring our dynamic, talented students.”
Kim plans to spend some of her remaining days of summer at a surf camp with her stepdaughter, eighth-grader Madeline Hope Finn. She also enjoys skiing, traveling and taking part in triathlons.
High-energy and enthusiastic, Kim gives this advice to students, “Enjoy the last few days of summer and be prepared for an exciting school year.”