Since starting her new job at Elmwood Elementary School, Kim Martini hasn’t spent much time in her office.
As the school’s new assistant principal, she’s been busy walking the halls and climbing the stairs of the school. She jokes that she needs one of those items people wear on their wrists to track the number of steps they make everyday, because she seldom gets time to sit down.
“I’m a problem-solver and a troubleshooter,” she said. “If a problem arises, I go tend to it.”
Martini, 30, says she’s always wanted to be a teacher. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2007 with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology. She started her teaching career in Lockport, Ill., teaching eighth-grade language arts for three years and later moved on to Minooka, Ill., teaching the same grade for about four years before coming to work for Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401.
In 2012, she graduated from Concordia University with a master’s degree in counseling and recently obtained her educational leadership degree from Aurora University. This is her first time working outside of the classroom in an administrative position.
She says she has received a lot of support from the school’s staff especially Elmwood School Principal Kevin Seibel, who had the assistant principal’s position prior to being promoted. She said he has been a mentor to her.
“I was apprehensive and nervous,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done without him. I’m still transitioning, but I still have to pinch myself because this is real, this is happening.”
She admits she misses teaching, but enjoys what she is doing now.
“I do like going in and observing the teachers teach,” she said.
In or out of the classroom she wants to make sure every student has a positive educational experience.
“Every child has the right to learn, every child deserves to learn,” she said.
She lives in Schaumberg, single and enjoys spending time with her family and practicing yoga. She has a one-year contract with District 401.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard
