Kim Kotel, Rochester School for the Deaf

It's a local school known all over the world. And this week's News 8 Golden Apple Award winner is one reason it's successful. We honor Kim Kotel at the Rochester School for the Deaf.

The Rochester School for the Deaf serves students from 90 local school districts. Since 1876, the goal has been to give deaf and hard-of-hearing children the foundation for a successful life.

Teacher Kim Kotel lives that mission. An educator capable of teaching many subjects to kids of all ages. All with a boundless energy and enlightened spirit. Nancy Heaney is Director, High School Programs at the Rochester School for the Deaf. "She's very peppy. She's very active! Ah, she really goes!"

We snuck down the hallway into Kim's classroom. She told us she was going to pass out from shock. Physical Education Teacher Scott Lipitz wrote and asked us to surprise Kim. "She always goes above and beyond what a normal teacher would do. I mean she's a very motivated teacher and the students love her."

"I love teaching" Kim says. "I love interacting with the kids. I enjoy seeing them figure out something. And enjoy when they get excited, it causes me to get excited too. And everyday I get to laugh."

Kim says she can't tell us, but can show us how she feels. "And the best sign for that is, which means you have pride, I have no word for that."

Kim Kotel is a News 8 Golden Apple Award Winner. You can read the letter Scott wrote nominating her below.



Dear channel 8,

   Kim Kotel has been working several years at Rochester School for the Deaf, but continues to teach relevant material that applies to today's society.
   Mrs. Kotel is an ELA instructor by trade, but wears many other hats throughout the school. She goes above and beyond for her students, creating meaningful, relevant lessons that help our students learn.
   Just recently, Mrs. Kotel has done a persuasive writing assignment where her students wrote about the need of message boards at airports and on airplanes. It was an amazing lesson that got the attention of the press, but she does these kind of assignments on a daily basis.
   She's an amazing teacher and as a colleague of hers, I am proud to nominate her for this award! She definitely deserves it!

Sincerely,

Scott Lipitz
Rochester School for the Deaf