Meet Oyster Bay's New Teachers: Ms. Kim

By Ariel Margolin
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​         Maria Kim, the newest member of the English Department, teaches 7th and 8th grade English at OBHS. 
​        Before coming to Oyster Bay, Ms. Kim taught in Flushing, as well as Hollis High School in Jamaica (of which she made mention was the high school of rap group Run DMC and of rapper-turned-entrepreneur Russell Simmons).

       As for her own schooling, Ms. Kim went to the highly prestigious Bronx School of Science, where she enrolled in all the language classes she could. She was also on the Ultimate Frisbee team! Ms. Kim went on to receive her bachelor's degree from Binghamton University and two master's degrees, one from Queens College and the other from Hunter College. She has most recently enrolled in a doctoral program for Literacy at Hofstra University. Ms. Kim initially wanted to pursue writing professionally, but she realized its fiscal impracticality and now pursues it only as her favorite pastime.
       Ms. Kim lists her greatest strengths as being flexible, open-minded and willing to talk to all. She cites her top personal achievement as finishing her graduate programs while working full time.
        As she begins her teaching career here at OBHS, Ms. Kim hopes to encourage students to read and write. She added, “I hope to teach students not only to read and write better, but also to become better listeners, to understand issues around them deeply from all perspectives as they form opinions. Especially in light of all the controversial topics surrounding our country today, my wish is that my students will be knowledgeable and informed participants in national discourse, unlike many of the people who comment on internet!”
       During her free time, Ms. Kim enjoys watching The Office, and she kayaks often. And, of course, she loves to read and write!
       Welcome aboard, Ms. Kim!