AMESBURY — Following in her parents’ footsteps, Amesbury Middle School Music Teacher Johanna Kimball found out Monday she was named Amesbury Rotary Club Educator of the Year.
“It was the nicest Monday surprise that anyone could receive,” Kimball said.
The award will be presented next Wednesday during the Rotary Club’s luncheon at Ristorante Molise in Market Square beginning at 12:15 p.m.
Kimball was given the news by Rotary Club Educator of the Year Committee Chair Donna Collins who praised Kimball’s dedication to her students.
“Johanna spends countless hours outside of the classroom, with the Drama Club, the AMS Carnival, AMS Idol, AMS Melody Club, and pretty much anything involving music and the performing arts,” Collins said.
Kimball, the daughter of previous educators of the year Patty and Peter Hoyt, has been teaching in the district for 12 years.
“I started at the Cashman School teaching elementary music and I moved up to Amesbury Middle School seven years ago to teach chorus,” Kimball said.
Asked what drives her passion for teaching, she said she just wants kids to have fond memories of school, especially middle school.
“I never saw myself as someone who would come back and teach middle school because most people don’t have fond memories of their middle school years,” Kimball said.
Describing middle school staff as “incredible,” Kimball said they help make teaching performing arts fun.
“I think it’s one of the most spirited bunch of teachers, willing to do the silly things and follow through on these kind of wild ideas that we might throw at them,” Kimball said.
Growing up with both her parents as prominent educators, she said she spent a longtime ignoring her own passion for teaching as she tried to find her own path.
“I denied that about myself for many years when I was doing some other things with my life. When I couldn’t ignore it any longer, here I am 12 years in teaching in the same district,” Kimball said.
She said that May 14 will be a special “full circle” moment, having memories of both of her parents’ luncheons.
“I’m very humbled by this because there are some incredible people and teachers on that list. And to think just for a second that I have had even a similar impact is very humbling,” Kimball said.
Patty Hoyt, who was named educator of the year in 1986 the year after her husband, struggled to find the words for how excited they were for their daughter.
“Peter and I are proud of the work that she does as a teacher, it goes without words. I think because Peter and I understand so well how hard she works, we are so appreciative of this award,” Hoyt said.