Why I Work at Edgewood
Kim McVey, teacher
“At Edgewood, I am believed in, cared about, encouraged to be creative, listened to, cheered on and patiently supported as I face challenges or difficulties. I feel totally backed up – which is why I've never packed up – and moved on.”
Kim McVey has worked at Edgewood Children’s Center for 11 years. She is a special education teacher, specializing in children with learning disabilities and behavior disorders. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and has 20 years experience working with troubled youth in a variety of areas. Kim has worked as a child care worker in a group home, a residential counselor in a drug rehabilitation facility for teens and a resident counselor in a youth psychiatric unit. Kim started at Edgewood as a teacher’s aide and in her second year was encouraged by her fellow staff to become a teacher. She went back to school while working full time to obtain her certification. She also continued to work in the residential units, coach and tutor. Kim became a teacher in 2001.
“I will never forget my first year as a teacher as I sat with my students in class and watched the second plane hit the twin towers.” Kim tried her best to help her students understand the tragedy. “I just started writing on the board all the words the kids didn't understand, like ‘debris,’ and tried to help them process what was going on.”
Kim loves working with troubled youth but being a teacher is a new challenge for her. “I am still growing and learning,” she says but feels truly supported by her staff.
“My director and mentor have listened to my challenges and guided me well,” Kim says. Her teacher’s assistant is calm and supportive, and her fellow teachers have served as true friends and role models.
And last, but not least, to Kim, “the volunteers are the icing on the cake – they make everything just a little bit easier to take!”
Click here to learn more about working at Edgewood!