Local Educators

Local Educators

Saturday, 07 July 2007

Mary Kimmins, Principal, Pflugerville Middle School

Mary Kimmins began her career in the Pflugerville school district 24 years ago as a teacher at Pflugerville Middle School. She continued to hold various positions in the district including teaching at Westview Middle School, setting up the computer networks at Park Crest Middle School and John B. Connally High School, working at the central office, opening Hendrickson High School as assistant principal and back now at Pflugerville Middle School as principal. Kimmins believes that each role has taught her something valuable.

“Everything each person does is important. It is interesting to see how the different roles mix together,” Kimmins said. “The faculty and staff here are incredible. We work together as a team and our support system is strong.”

Q. What has been your favorite position? Why?

A. I really loved learning all the roles. I think teaching is the core; it’s where the connection begins with the students. Teachers are able to get to know the students so well and have a positive effect on so many students. The technology role was challenging. When I opened Hendrickson, I enjoyed getting to know the students and seeing them graduate. Now, I enjoy working with the faculty and staff and building relationships with the students. The excitement is in getting to know the students.

Q. What is the best/worst part of your job as principal?

A. The best part is being on campus with the students and faculty. It provides a family feeling and builds a connection. The least exciting part is what draws me away from interacting the students - the paperwork.

Q. What success stories have you seen?

A. Anytime you see a successful student, it is rewarding. When you see the spark light up in a student, you know they will be okay. We get to see that every year. We make sure students get the education they need. That is exciting.

Q. What do you hope students remember about you?

A. That I taught them school is fun and it is a good place to be. Learning will help with success in life and education is the way to get what they want.

Q. What changes have you seen in the district?

A. There has been an enormous growth. When I started in this district, there were only two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The growth has been incredible. The district continues to try to keep up with the growth and be a successful district for the students. The connection between people in the district is seen when students come back to visit. Staying in the same district, I have had the opportunity to keep growing, continue the learning process and remain where I know the people and the district. I know where the district is going and I like it.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Texas A&M University, Master’s Degree, University of Texas and principal certification, Texas State University

Family: One of eight brothers and sisters

Contact information: 594-2000, mary.kimmins@pflugervilleisd.net

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Mary Lumbley, Teacher, River Oaks Elementary

Mary Lumbley came to Pflugerville ISD in 1971 when all three of the schools were on the same strip of land. She and another new teacher each taught a section of 35 students. Since then, she has worked at three elementary schools before moving to River Oaks Elementary, where she has been for the past 14 years.

“I still love to teach. I am not tired yet. I may not agree with the Texas politics, but I am not ready to give up teaching,” Lumbley said. “I enjoy seeing students and knowing I made an impact on their lives for the best. Students recognize me all the time and ask me if I am still teaching. I was in Paris, France and a young lady came up to me because she recognized me as her third-grade teacher. That is amazing.”

Q. How has teaching impacted your life?

A. Teaching is my driving force. I think about my students at school (past, present and future), and I put them ahead of my own child. My son started in the Pflugerville district in first grade and graduated from high school. He says the education he got from the Pflugerville district was the best he could have gotten. The district was more diverse and he was able to learn how to be in different types of situations and be around different types of people. I owe Pflugerville a debt because my son did well in college and medical school.

Q. What have you learned from teaching?

A. That you can’t judge a child by its cover. A teacher must get to know the child as quick as possible. The sooner we learn about them, we can connect with them and meet their needs. Teachers should learn students from the inside-out not the outside-in.

Q. What is the best/worst thing about your job as teacher?

A. The best thing is being able to be a positive and loving figure in the students’ lives. The students know that I am there for them. The worst thing is how the testing has taken over a child being able to just be an 8 or 9 year-old. Now, they have the stress of having to pass the test before they can go on. The state doesn’t know what these children go through as far as their home lives. It is horrible what testing has done.

Q. What changes have you seen in the district?

A. The biggest change is the growth. The teachers used to be able to all meet before school started at the high school for a breakfast. We all knew each other. Because of the growth, we have an outstanding district that is recognized state-wide for football, test scores and diversity. Pflugerville went from being a farming community to one in which people come from all over the world with many different backgrounds.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of Texas
• Family: Husband, Jack and son, Josh and wife Katy
• Contact information: 594-5000, mary.lumbley@pflugervilleisd.net