Interviewer: What is your name?
Kimberly: Kimberly Gier
Interviewer: What is your position at CSA?
Kimberly: Alignment Manager, STEM
Interviewer: What does that position entail?
Kimberly: I staff and manage projects that have us looking at different textbooks, digital curricula, and supplemental materials and comparing them to educational standards. We help schools and districts learn about the different products available and choose something that is going to work best for them.
Interviewer: How did you become a part of CSA?
Kimberly: I worked for CSA as a contractor for several years, and then when a staff position opened up, I joined the team.
Interviewer: What is the best part of your job?
Kimberly: I learn a lot from different curriculum products that we review, and I help make sure that schools get high-quality materials to students and teachers.
Interviewer: What do you wish schools focused on more in terms of education and why?
Kimberly: One of the things I like about many of the products I work with is the way that textbooks include connections between the concept being taught and other topics. It goes a long way toward answering the inevitable question, Why are we learning this? Your math book can just teach you math, or it can teach you about science, music, even problem-solving in your life. I like the sense that no subject just exists by itself; it means something outside of the day’s lesson, too, and I’d like to see those connections become more of a focus in the classroom.
Interviewer: What are three interesting facts about you?
Kimberly:
- Over the last couple of years, I’ve been slowly baking my way through all the challenges from the Great British Baking Show. I’m getting good at puff pastry, but I’m terrible at roll cakes.
- I love to take road trips, and I have driven through 47 of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. I only have Michigan left.
- My household currently includes an elderly tabby cat, a rescue pittie, and a bearded dragon.
Click here to learn more about Kimberly!
