Teacher of the Month Jan. 2013 - Kim Battistessa | Education

FAIR OAKS, CA - It's not often that you hear children call their teacher by her first name, but if it evens the playing field and makes her students more comfortable, Kim Battistessa is all for it.

"We're all on the same level learning and growing together," said the Orangevale Open 5th grade teacher. "The kids do call me Kim, it's been a very big change."

Battistessa embraced the campus wide approach just as she has teaching for several years.

"Challenging myself to know my children, challenging myself to challenge my children, it's a big part of my job," explained Battistessa.

With 34 kids in her classroom, it is Battistessa's priority to make sure each child gets the education they deserve.

Interactive activities are part of the lesson plan, but for the woman who credits her career choice to an Australian exchange school teacher, academics is just part of the equation.

"He cared about what we were going through at home. He became a family member," Battistessa said.

Battistessa's experience as a young girl mirrors how her students now see the teacher they've come to admire.

"Kim is obviously a great teacher. There is never favoritism and she makes sure everyone understands the lesson she is teaching," 11-year-old Cassidy Downs explained.

"She makes things fun and makes it easier for me to learn," 10-year-old Drew Bimson said.

Making a positive mark is what motivates Battistessa as she continues to connect with her students and make an impact that she hopes will count.

"Being a part of their life, being a part of their journey in finding themselves is what makes me come back," Battistessa said.