Outstanding Elementary School Social Studies Educator of the Year

50th Annual MCSS Professional Learning Conference and Great Lakes Regional Social Studies Conference
Preparing Global Citizens: Promoting Literacy, Environmental Stewardship and Cultural Awareness
January 30-February 1, 2006
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Honored Guests & Awardees
Mr. David Kimber

Dave Kimber grew up in sunny, southern California where he excelled at surfing and music. During the 70s, he was a recording artist for MGM Records in Hollywood. There he sang and recorded the theme song for Woodsy Owl, "Give a Hoot! Don't Pollute!" He also worked with such artists as Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Frank Zappa. In 1979, Dave and his new wife, PJ, a teacher of hearing impaired students, moved to Australia, where they lived and worked for 10 years. Dave wrote music, t.v. themes, and was the music director for Channel 7 in Sydney.

They moved back to the U.S.A. (Flint, Michigan) in 1989. Dave went to U. of M.-Flint and received his teaching degree and later received his Master's degree. He has been teaching Social Studies to 4th, 5th and 6th graders at Neithercut Elementary School ever since.

Dave's solid instructional practices, and his creation of a classroom environment conducive to learning, engage his students in their work. One of Dave's best strategies is getting them to learn through music. Dave has recorded eleven original songs about civics, our core democratic values entitled "Under the Red, White, and Blue". He said, "Civics is a hard thing to teach. When I use these songs it becomes easier." Kimber's students have earned the highest MEAP scores within the Flint Community Schools, as well as being in the top ten of the state. The CD was nominated for a Grammy for the Best Children's Album of the Year in 2004.

He says, "The first benchmark that I address each day is not a student objective but rather a self-imposed teacher mandate. Learning has to be fun for my students as they struggle to understand and stretch their minds each day. I want it to be a labor of love. If I do it right, they will carry that attitude with them when they leave my classroom and become life-long learners. That is my greatest goal and my greatest satisfaction as a teacher."

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