Introduction

Hello!

My name is Jerry Kim, and I am an English and ELL teacher, currently teaching ELL at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois. I have been working in different high schools since the 2008 either as an instructional aide, English teacher, ELL teacher, or some combination of these positions. I am very excited to be at Niles North High School, and it is my goal to provide every student in my classroom the opportunity to grow into well-rounded young people who are capable, independent, and responsible citizens who will contribute to the world around them.

A little about myself: I have been a teacher in some capacity since my high school days, teaching the Korean martial art, Tae Kwon Do, since I was 14 years old and "retiring" when I was 31. I spent time in college teaching English to international students, and also spent time teaching English to senior citizens for a Korean-American community organization in the city of Chicago. I am still involved with the Korean senior community today, serving on the board of directors for Hanul Family Alliance, an organization that provides services to the elderly Korean population.

My wife and I live in the suburbs of Chicago, and we enjoy traveling when we have the opportunity. Some of the places we've been to are Mackinac Island, Denver, Cherokee in North Carolina (in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains), Cancun, and my personal favorite, South Korea (where we were born). Interestingly, we were both ELL students at different points in our lives! We recently celebrated the birth of our son, Joseph 선범 Kim!

In my spare time, I enjoy reading science fiction, playing the drums (self-taught), tinkering with computers, indulging in graphic novels, playing an occasional video game, and finding new recipes to attempt (usually resulting in failure). You can also find me in the mornings exercising either at my local gym or in the school gym (though I do not recommend trying to have a conversation with me when I have headphones on).

I have always had a heart for students, and it is my desire to see every one of my students achieve a goal that they would never have thought possible in my classroom. Whether it's writing a thoughtful and well-developed essay, being able to overcome the fear of speaking a new language in public, or even coming to the realization that Romeo and Juliet is still relevant today, it is my belief that every student can be successful, so long as he or she has the right tools, the right attitude, and the opportunity to do so! I look forward to seeing my students grow, achieve success, and dream even bigger than when they first walked into my classroom, and will do everything in my power to make sure each student knows that he or she is always going to have a voice and a teacher who supports him or her in the classroom.

I am open to questions and conversations; you only need to ask! Please feel free to contact me about anything I can do to help your student achieve the success he or she seeks! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I wish everyone all the best going forward!

Best,

Jerry Kim (8/2021)