Teacher of the Week created school’s ASL program decades ago and still teaches in same classroom | WZZM13.com
A first for the 13 ON YOUR SIDE Teacher of the Week: One West Michigan educator is teaching students a valuable skill that isn’t offered in every district.
Students at Forest Hills Central High School gathered in the media center to surprise Kimberly Anderson.
“I was very touched and so surprised because I had no idea,” she said. “When you teach, there’s just a lot of love and a lot of emotion but I have never seen it all in one spot.”
Principal Jonathan Haga told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, “You know, when I saw it was Ms. Anderson’s name, I was thrilled to be able to really set up an experience for her which – she was a little blindsided – but that she’s going to remember for a long time.”
Anderson was hired in 2013 to start the American Sign Language (ASL) program at Forest Hills Central High.
“There’s no high school curriculum for ASL, really, out there. So, yes, everything you see was masterminded by me,” said Anderson.
She’s been in the same classroom ever since and explained, “We talk about how beneficial sign language is and how it can be used anytime with anybody.”
