Kimberly Bishop is our News 3 Teacher of The Month
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Little hands, hard at work.
Pre-K teacher, Kimberly Bishop motivates her little helpers with some encouraging words “Okay, good job. Keep going.”
It’s clean-up time for Bishop’s morning pre-K class. She teaches at Divich Elementary in the Northwest Valley.
“Rich, are you washing your hands?” asks Bishop.
In her class, the kids know the routine. But, this day, was anything but typical.
News 3 stopped by her classroom under the guise of a camera crew with the Clark County School District.
A few minutes into filming, we pulled Bishop aside and revealed she was the News 3 Teacher of the Month. But the surprise was just getting started.
“Ooohhhhh my goodness. Come here!” Bishop says through a big smile.
In walks, her former pre-K student, Sterling Calhoun.
“Are you coming back to see meyou want to come back to pre-K?” asks Bishop.
Mom, Felica Calhoun, and big sister, Savannah, follow behind. Felica gives Bishop a big hug and hands Bishop the News 3 teacher supply basket.
Calhoun says “The growth in those two pre-K years Sterling had was huge because of her.”
Sterling was born with down syndrome. But, Calhoun says, from day one, Sterling flourished in Bishop’s classroom.
“We’re just every so grateful,” says Calhoun.
Bishop explains, “When he first came he was drinking from a bottle, he was pushed in a stroller, he wasn’t walking and I was like – oh I have my work cut out for me. But, I’m like yes! Every time I get a little guy like that, I’m like, let’s hit the ground running!”
Fast forward a couple of months later, Sterling was already leading the class line using a walker.
“She said at the beginning of the year that he would be walking by Christmas. And he absolutely did. With her patience a lot of patience and genuine loveshe made it happen,” says Calhoun.
Mrs. Bishop has also made an impact on big sister, Savannah. Savannah is Sterling’s favorite person and mom’s right-hand helper.
Calhoun says “Mrs. Bishop has told herthings that she can do to help. Sometimes Sterling listens to big sister more than mom. “
“I want to try to help him to be able to do more stuff like other kids,” says Savannah.
The Calhouns and Bishop share in their desire to have Sterling experience life like other kids. Sterling is a budding star on his local Miracle League baseball team, and Ms. Bishop is his biggest fan.
“She decided to come out one day and her husband came. It was their anniversary. They came out on their anniversary. I mean how who does that?” says Calhoun.
But, she didn’t just bring her husband. Ms. Bishop recruited the student council from Divich Elementary.
“We did an inclusion week in December. They came on (that) Saturday and we made baseballs with each one of the team insignias, and the kids decorated the posters. We brought them out, and we hung them all on the gate,” explained Bishop.
For nearly 30 years, Bishop has guided little ones on their educational journey.
“I don't work bell the bell. I work in the evenings. I work on the weekends and constantly my wheels are always going about how can I help this child with this aspect (of what they need),” says Bishop.
For her unwavering devotion to children and their success, Kimberly Bishop is the News 3 Teacher of the Month. Parents like Felicia Calhoun say she’s beyond deserving.
“Thinking about it makes me a little teary-eyed. Honestly, I think she's an angel.”
