My name is Samantha Kimble, and I am a third-grade teacher at Casey Elementary in Jackson, MS. I have been a teacher at Casey for ten years, and I am currently working on my Specialist degree in Ed Leadership. I am originally from Montgomery, AL and moved to Brandon, MS after my first year of teaching. I received my Bachelors of Science in elementary education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL and my Masters from Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. I am the third-grade team leader, and I oversee writing and creating the reading/language lesson plans for our grade.

I love creating thematic units that incorporate the arts, reading, writing, science and social studies. Over the past few years, I have created several thematic units including:” Build Our Self-Esteem unit through Patricia Polacco’s Words,”” Habitat Make Up our Ecosystems,” and my all-time favorite is “Cinderella Around the World.” In these units, I use different forms of literacy, fiction, and non-fiction, and incorporate art in every way I can. Each unit ties in reading/writing skills that fit the JPS pacing guide. I honestly believe the arts are an invaluable tool for the classroom and help expand our students’ minds and imaginations.