Written and Submitted by Rachel Taylor, OFISD. Pictures Courtesy Orangefield Independent School District. 

Mrs. Kimberly Spears is the Ready, Set, Teach, teacher at Orangefield High School. She has been in the education field for 19 years and has been a teacher at Orangefield High School for 16 years. Miss Farmer, as she was known in 2007, was asked to teach a class to Orangefield High School students, that would introduce them to the world of education. The class would be called, “Ready, Set, Teach”.

Front Row:  Brianna Graffagnino (Kimberly Spears’ new teaching partner) OHS Human Services Teacher; Ashlyn (Lopez) Pinner – OHS English Teacher; Ashlee (Broussard) Peevey- OJH History Teacher and Coach; Back Row: Kimberly (Farmer) Spears – Education and Training Career Teacher (Ready, Set, Teach); Allie (Beach) LeBouef – OES Technology Teacher; Maria (Winfree) Best – OES 3rd Grade Teacher; Danielle (Graffagnino) Sheppard – OJH Technology and Business Teacher; Corey Sheppard – Director of Primary Curriculum

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Fun Facts about the people in the picture:

• Danielle (Graffagnino) Sheppard and Corey Sheppard were boyfriend and girlfriend in RST.
• Ashlee (Broussard) Peevey taught Mrs. Spears’ oldest son, Kale Spears, at OJH.
• Danielle (Graffagnino) Sheppard taught Mrs. Spears’ oldest son, Kale Spears, at OJH.
• Allie (Beach) LeBouef taught Mrs. Spears’ youngest son, Kreed Spears, at OES.
• Maria (Winfree) Best taught Mrs. Spears’ youngest son, Kreed Spears, at OES.

The picture above is of Mrs. Spears and her Ready, Set, Teach, students that went through her program and are now educators and coworkers at Orangefield ISD. As Mrs. Spears looked at the picture, she reflected on how she had some of these students before she was married, had kids or basically a life. She has former students that have become educators, teaching in local districts of Bridge City and Little Cypress Mauriceville and as far away as New Caney and Dayton.

Her task of introducing her students to the world of being an educator is ridiculously difficult, but tremendously rewarding. Statistically, the Navy Seal dropout rate is between 70 and 80 percent. The dropout rate of teachers in Texas is very similar to that of Navy Seals.  By the end of a teacher’s second year, 50 percent have quit the profession, by year 5, 80 percent of Texas teachers wash out of education.  Just like Navy Seals, just showing up for a mission is not enough. As an educator, you have to perform each and every day. This is what Mrs. Spears’ mission has been for the past 15 years, to teach high school students that education is a calling and it’s not for everybody. But for those that are called to teach, this is how you do it.

Mrs. Spears states that it is so rewarding to see her former students come back to our community and to teach and support the future of Orangefield. She was there as a support for her students in high school and now she is a patronage for her former students as coworkers.

Mrs. Spears teaches that you cannot survive in education or life as an island. It’s the relationships and moments that are shared with your students and coworkers that make the difference.

Mrs. Kimberly Spears with her support system, coworkers and friends at OHS.
Back Row: Ozhny Scogin, Jessica Van Huis, Olivia Gravett, Rachel Taylor, Kimberly Spears. Front Row: Kimberly Feidler and Angelique Catt

Orangefield ISD’s motto is, “WE BELIEVE” and yes, “WE BELIEVE” in the power of Mrs. Kimberly Spears preparing her students to work as our future teachers. A glimpse into the future of tomorrow’s educators is to introduce you to today’s Ready, Set, Teach class of 2023-2024.

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Front L-R: Wynter Wedgeworth, Kinslei Carter, Winnie Ou, Makenna Meads, Natalie Romero
Back L-R: Lili Sanford, Madison KC, Greenlea Oldham, Haven Nowlin, Maddy Wernig