Educator and artist Kimberly Kennard has become an expert at finding her passions and turning them into a lifetime of good works. Though maybe it’s the other way around, and her passions keep finding her.
After completing both her bachelor’s and master’s in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee, she quickly learned to love education while student-teaching in undergraduate classes as she was pursuing her own studies.
Once finished at UT, she headed to Athens, Georgia, pursuing another degree in secondary science education, taking her newfound expertise back home and hasn’t looked back since. Now, she’s the head of the science department at Fulton High School, though her talents don’t end there. She credits a lot of her drive to simply being willing to try, and also fail.
“I learned from 16 years in the classroom that you must be willing to try new things and make mistakes as part of learning,” Kennard said. “Teachers do that every time we teach a new subject or try out a new activity with our students and we encourage that mindset in our students.”
Recently, that willingness to try new things has manifested into Kennard’s newest hobby, painting. She says she first picked up on it when camping with a friend, watching her attempt to capture the scenery engulfing them on the canvas. Now, her work can be found on a newly launched Instagram page named @watercolors_by_kimberly.
Kim’s partner, Steven, her biggest supporter in teaching and art. Together, exploring nature with their two rescue dogs, Charlie and Jackie.
Kennard says the process is much more fulfilling than the final product to her. As an avid hiker, camper and all-around outdoorswoman, capturing the scenery of birds singing and frogs chirping at Seven Islands State Birding Park told her immediately she had found the right outlet.
Sometimes, the result can be fulfilling for others besides herself. Recently, she joined a Quick Draw competition for fun, but ultimately was awarded Best of Show. Not only did that experience boost her confidence significantly, it also allowed her to give a boost for the people of Appalachia as well. Kennard was able to raise over $700 for victims of Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
“Before that, I had not engaged in anything artistic since middle school,” Kennard said. “I had no expectations of success or timelines for progress, so the experience was just full of joy and learning for its own sake.”
Kennard continues to pursue painting and hopefully can attend some in-person workshops during her summer breaks. She also loves now getting to work alongside professional artists at next year’s Smokies Plein Air event. As she continues balancing her two passions, she thanks her partner, Steven, and their rescue dogs, Charlie and Jackie, for their continued support of her work.
Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for the KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at email or text 865-919-5059 with your story idea.
