Kim Gore-Ross has been an active member of NEALS for over a decade. She has made immeasurable contributions in the area of communication. In fact, she was the person at the Worcester Academy conference whose warmth and effectiveness encouraged me to join the board. An early proponent of design thinking you touted teaching as “a fine balance of the arts and sciences where there are measurable accomplishments and room for creativity and fun." As Dean of the Academic Support Program at Brewster Academy – a great match for this wildlife photographing hiker and kayaker - Kim has been a visionary leader since 1987. She has developed a highly sought out academic and instructional support program that seeks to accelerate student learning by providing customized programs that recognize students’ talents while helping them to acquire the skills and strategies needed to become lifelong learners. To that end, Kim ensures that her staff has access to the most effective strategies for each student to be a successful and independent learner. Committed to all learners, students and teachers alike, she generously shares her knowledge, expertise, and success with others at conferences and workshops. According to a fellow Learning Specialist at Brewster, “she has a love of learning and passes that on to all she meets. Patient, passionate, and giving, Kim has had a deep and profound impact on those she has taught.”
During Kim’s tenure and thanks to her skills, grace, and diligence, NEALS has held dynamic conferences with impressive national speakers. With Kara Ashley and Melissa Rubin, Kim has brought NEALS into the digital world in many ways, redesigning our website twice, independently maintaining it for years, and taking the majority of the pictures you will find there.
To commemorate your inspiring leadership and your dedicated service as a steward of the Northeast Association of Learning Specialists Kim, we the Board have chosen you to be the 2015 recipient of the Barbara Kennefick Award for Service. In your honor, and inspired by your spirit, we had this beautiful, but kinda "loony" gift, crafted especially for you. With love and appreciation from all of us, thank you Kim.
Congratulations, Susan Cole Ross
President of NEALS