By Aliza Zaidi

Town Crier Editorial Intern

In August 1997, when Michele Kibble walked into Covington Elementary School for her interview with the Los Altos School District, she had a bachelor’s degree in human development and teaching credentials from the University of California at Davis but no prior teaching experience.

In the five years since then, Kibble has been working as a first-grade teacher at Springer Elementary School. In this short period, she has twice been selected summer school principal and has also obtained her graduate degree through the master’s degree program that the school district offers.

According to Marge Gratiot, superintendent of the Los Altos School District, the master’s degree program is offered to “potential future administrators.”

The district sees summer school as a training ground for future principals. “It gives them some experience, and gives me a chance to see how they perform in a leadership role,” Gratiot said.

“Michele is one of our best teachers - not only because she knows the curriculum and is successful in teaching it, but she is so warm and nurturing with the children,” Gratiot said.

Most parents were quick to draw attention to her loving, nurturing, kind and academically structured teaching skills.

Farhat Raza, whose daughter Sana was in Kibble’s class last year, time and again mentioned Kibble’s “sincere tone.”

“Making the China scrapbook was my favorite,” Sana said. “Ms. Kibble helped me draw cool things, and when I was sick she helped me glue pictures.”

“Ms. Kibble is very organized,” said Cathy White, whose daughter Christina was in Kibble’s class last year. “This allows her to focus on the children and give them one-on-one attention.” Christina was particularly happy with the special art projects Kibble introduced.

Kibble said her focus throughout the year remains on getting to know the students and their families better. She schedules 10-minute parent-teacher conferences three times a week after school.

“She is very gentle, kind and approachable, which I believe is conducive to learning,” said Marit Barton, who needed an accessible teacher for her daughter Bryn.

“The best part is watching a child not know how to read and write, and by the end of the year they are reading and writing and loving it,” Kibble said.

Christina jumped from a level 4 in reading to a level 44, for which White gives tremendous credit to Kibble.

Linda Forell, whose son Nicholas was with Kibble, has been aiding Kibble for two years. She was quick to mention that Kibble is a “natural teacher.”

“Her communicating style is matter-of-fact, yet warm and loving,” Forell added.

Kibble feels it is of paramount importance that the year is successful for the children. The achievements of every student reflect on her success as a teacher.

“My daughter was having some problems coping with the first-grade curriculum,” Raza said. “She kept me closely informed as she worked to solve Sana’s problems, and by the end of the year my daughter was amongst the top students in the class.”

“She is great at converting bad behavior situations into a learning experience for the student as well as the class, while making sure that the student is not singled out,” Forell said.

Gratiot echoed that sentiment.

“In addition to her exemplary teaching, Michele plays a leadership role among the teachers, working to refine our first-grade curriculum and leading in service classes for them,” Gratiot said.