She, of course, was given a fond farewell at our end-of-year employee party:
Mandy Piazza (Lower School, partnered with Kim from 2015-present):
“Kim and I started working together almost 11 years ago. I was eager for a new job and I was told that the strong teaching duo of Kim and Sue would be split and Marlene Heuer and I would help to create new teams. In the first year of teaching with Kim I did feel a bit intimidated for she seemed to understand every action and behavior so welI and she exuded so much confidence. I used to call her the child whisperer for she could always find a way to connect, relate and help each child. In our first year of working together I learned more than I had the previous ten plus years of teaching. After a little bit of time, Kim and my style just molded together and we created an environment we were proud of and every year after seemed to get better and better.
I will truly miss going through all of the Harley traditions without Kim by my side. Pageant, May Day, birthday celebrations, Elf Day, the list goes on and on. I will forever cherish the memories we created together.
In addition to the happy times, we also had several challenging moments to go through together. From COVID- shutting down in the middle of the year and teaching three-year-olds to be social while wearing masks, helping a student stay connected to our class while getting treatments for leukemia, going through our own personal health scares and losing loved ones all while being a team. Kim was there for me and a solid, steady partner through all of it. Through all of this our relationship just got stronger and we could always rely on each other.
Over the years Kim taught me and so many others valuable lessons that we will never forget. Kids can do hard things (at any age), always take
the time to listen, learn and figure out why a behavior might be happening, play is a right that should never be taken away from any child and most importantly if children do not listen trouble will find them.
Kim you have shared so much of you with so many people. Your entire life has been helping, teaching, and guiding others. If life was measured in how many lives you’ve touched you would be a millionaire. I recently contacted as many co-workers and former parents as I could, and asked them to write a message or send in some pictures for you. The messages I received blew me away. You’ll have the chance to read all of the messages soon enough, but here are some of the quotes that help sum up what so many of us wish to tell you.
-Miss B, the master educator of young children.
-You created a room where curiosity could meet safety, where children could learn who they are and whom they can become.
-You helped build confidence, nurtured curiosity, and made each child feel seen, valued, and loved.
-You are in the fiber of the school, the successes of our students, the voices in many emerging parents’ heads, and the fabric of our families.
Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
Miss B-You have made such a difference, and your work is the important work. Helping young people become good humans, to care about others, take care of each other, and to communicate with words. We often joke that many adults would not survive a week in Nursery Red or they would be put in their place very quickly.
Kim, thank you for giving me the gift of Nursery Red. I promise to continue the culture we have created and to maintain a room of curiosity, fun, and wonder. Enjoy every minute of your retirement; you have earned every bit.
Congratulations!”
Betsy Wilcox ’01, P ’37 (Lower School, 2020-present) and Lindsay Worner ’02, P ’38 (Physical Education, 2010-2022, Middle School Math and Student Support, 2022-25, Physical Education, 2025-present) took turns:
“I first met Miss B. (it’s still hard for me to call her Kim) when I was a student in Nursery Red. I was a quiet little blonde 4-year-old, and Miss B. was a MUCH YOUNGER 🙂 teacher with a big smile and a cozy classroom. 4-year-old me understood Kim to be bossy and kind, loud, and loving. Adult me would describe her in……basically the same way, with a few notable additions: deeply dedicated, quick to laugh, generous, and a strong advocate for play and “what’s best for kids”.
Kim began working at Harley back in the 1900’s, first in the Extended Day program as a playground supervisor and then as a teacher. Over her 44+ years here, Kim has experienced and shared countless milestones in her life. She has celebrated joys and grieved losses, parented her son Max (a Harley lifer and graduate), traveled to Disney, gone on Disney cruises, traveled back to Disney (are you sensing a theme??), sustained close friendships, and built new ones.
Kim has taught over 600 Harley students in Nursery Red alone, and she has been a part of the fabric of the Harley Lower School for many, many more. The ripple effect of that means that she has touched thousands of lives, in multiple generations of families. Amazing. Children (big or small) remember and are changed for the better by this extraordinary place and the extraordinarily dedicated people here. I’ve remembered Miss B. as one in a million since I was just 4 years old, and I know I will continue to.
Miss B, we reflect all of your bossy love right back to you, today and always. A few hopes and dreams for you as you head on your way…
-may your water aerobics pools always be warm,
-may your knitting needles always move swiftly,
-may your baking ingredients always be at the ready,
-and may the road back to Harley NEVER feel long.
CONGRATULATIONS!!”
Sidenote from Lindsay:
“Ms. B was not only my teacher when I was young but also my teacher as a colleague and when I became a parent. As a colleague, she taught me all about how to encourage and talk to 3-year-olds. She taught me about how to let them explore and to learn their own limits. Then when I became a parent, I thought about everything that she had told me, and it made me a better mother. So not only did she make me a better teacher for my students, but also a better parent for my son, Jack. Her words gave me confidence and understanding about how to effectively engage, work with, and teach 3- and 4-year-olds. I will forever be grateful for her mentorship and knowledge that she’s always willing to share.”
